How a man broke down in tears – and changed his life

A WARRINGTON man who opened up over his mental health issues is encouraging others to speak out.
Rav Sekhon, 31, from Chapelford, went through a tough time just over 10 years ago when he found himself in a dark place, feeling helpless and isolated.
He said: “There is something about not being ‘macho’ if we talk about our feelings and some may see it as a sign of weakness. This attitude can lead to some men suffering in silence, not sharing their thoughts or feelings and struggling to come to terms with them.
“One day it all got on top of me and I broke down in tears, all of my pent up emotions came out. I opened up and shared how I was feeling. This was a life changing moment. Immediately I began to feel better and others began to notice the difference in me.
“This experience opened my eyes to being more open about how I feel. I want to encourage others to make sense of their emotions, not keep everything bottled up, and hopefully manage them a little easier. Just by talking about how you feel with your mate can really help so you don’t have to suffer in silence.”
Warrington Borough Council’s public health team and its partners are supporting the “In Your Corner’ campaign which is urging men to recognise the importance of their own mental health, how their attitudes and behaviours can influence other people’s experiences of mental health and that being in a friend’s corner can make all the difference.
Men are encouraged to step in, if a mate is acting differently and to:
1.Text, call, reach out
2.Listen without judging
3.Be themselves and do everyday things
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, the council’s lead member for public health and wellbeing, said: “The stress and strain of daily life can affect anyone, at any time. For some it can lead to serious mental health problems, or to people feeling overwhelmed and suicidal. It’s vital that we make sure men know how and where to get help if they feel unable to cope.
“In Warrington, we want to make sure that men get the information, advice and support they need, either to maintain their mental wellbeing, or to recover, if they are experiencing mental health problems or know someone else who needs support.”
As part of the campaign, a red stool will be circulating around local community venues along with mental health information. The stool and other useful resources are available for community groups and organisations to loan to raise awareness of men’s mental health. For more information email [email protected].
Details of help lines, online support and other services which have been designed especially for men and can be seen at www.happyoksad.org.uk.