Men’s health and the internet

Men, have you ever thought about the relationship between your smartphone and your health?

We're not talking about how it helps you count your steps or tracks your sleeping patterns. But more about the implications of that high-performance computer you're carrying around in your pocket, the one that was born the same year as a sixteen-year-old today: your trusty iPhone.



Men’s Health Week

This year, the theme of Men’s Health Week is the impact of the internet on men's health.

Let's start with the good stuff. With health apps, fitness tips, and countless resources at our fingertips, maintaining our health has never been easier. But, have you ever thought about the downsides? And no, we're not just talking about falling down a WebMD rabbit hole and self-diagnosing a rare disease from a mild symptom!



Could too much dopamine be a bad thing?

Imagine your iPhone as a dopamine-delivery device. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in your brain that's linked with feelings of pleasure, reward, and even interest.

Sounds good, right? But hold on a second. All those apps you love? They're cleverly designed to keep you hooked, releasing that dopamine again and again. This sounds a lot like addiction, doesn't it?

Losing a bit of time to Candy Crush or endless scrolling on Instagram might seem harmless enough. But what happens when it starts costing not just your time, but your money, your relationships, or even your job?





What’s the CAN DO challenge?

If you think you're spending too much time on your tech (or even if you're just now realising it), let's take a screen break. Replace that screen time with the CAN DO challenge.

These are five things we can all do that are proven to help us feel better. The CAN DO Challenge invites you to do all FIVE of them.​ These five ways are: *

• Connect - connect with other people (e.g. call an old friend or family member)
• (Be) Active - move your body (e.g. go for a run/walk/swim/dance/etc)
• Notice - take notice of the environment around you (e.g. turn off your phone for an hour and look around)
• Discover - learn something new (e.g. read a book you haven't read before)
• Offer (or give) - do something for someone else (e.g. volunteer for a local community group)

Unplug

We're not saying you need to throw your smartphone in a lake. Just take some time, unplug, and tune into what really matters. Who knows? You might just find it's the healthiest decision you'll make this year.

Men's mental health

Three times as many men as women die from suicide.*

The idea of men being unable to show their emotions for fear of seeming feminine and being told to “man up” when times get tough, has created a toxic culture in our society, where men feel unable to truly show their emotions.

As a result, men are bottling up their feelings, and looking at the statistics, it’s clear that this is resulting a high number of male suicides. Breaking the stigma needs everyone involved to have a more open and honest conversation about mental health. Check in on the men in your lives!

How could your life insurance policy help?

Did you know your life insurance could be your ticket to free mental health support? That's right! Lots of life insurance companies are now throwing in mental health perks as part of the package**. In times like these, who wouldn't want fast, free access to healthcare?

The harsh reality is, over 1.2 million folks in the UK are queued up for community mental health care. And guess what? This doesn't even count those waiting for inpatient care and other services. Imagine being able to tap into your life insurance benefits and get an appointment with a UK based doctor within hours. That could be a game-changer for you and your family.

What other benefits can you access?

Big names like AIG, Royal London, Scottish Widows, and Aviva aren't just giving you a life insurance policy. They're throwing in free support too. The best part? Your family, including your kids, can get in on these perks too.

These extra goodies can be anything from 24/7 access to a GP, free therapy sessions, second medical opinions, and so much more! It's always a good idea to check with your provider about these perks. They’ll be able to give you more information.

Further help and useful contacts

If you're struggling with mental health issues, these resources may be of help:

• Reach Mind, a mental health charity providing advice and support, at 0300 123 3393.
• Calm stands for Campaign Against Living Miserably and the charity offers advice, help, and information to anyone who is struggling with their mental health; you can contact them at 0800 58 58 58.
• Connect with Samaritans, providing 24/7 listening services, at 116 123.
• For all things LGBT+, call Switchboard from 10am-10pm at 0300 330 0630.
  
  
  

*According to the Office of National Statistics, 2021
** Free benefits are not contractual and may be removed at any time