The Match 2018. September 8th 2018.

Watch my story about depression, anxiety and suicide here: https://youtu.be/G9QrHdnZgt4

The Match is back for 2018, and this year we're aiming to tackle the stigma surrounding men's mental health. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45, with 12 men taking their own life every day. In 2015, 75% of all suicides were male. We think this needs to be addressed.

Many men think of mental health as a taboo subject and don't feel able to reach out and get the help they so desperately need. They feel embarrassed, they feel weak and they feel like it should not affect them. It is this stigma that has been a huge contributing factor to the rise in male suicide. The Match 2018 is dedicated to helping these men, and their friends and families around them, get this support.

We want to let blokes around the UK, and the world, know that It's Okay To Talk. It doesn't make you less manly, it doesn't make you weak. Actually, it's one of the hardest things you can do and is an incredibly brave thing to do. And by reaching out to someone you trust, you can help yourself and those around you and stop the journey to potentially taking your own life.

We also want to give some advice on how to help those who you feel might be suffering from mental health problems. Often people can be quite apprehensive to ask someone if they're okay, simply because they don't know how to approach the subject. If you feel like that, you're not alone. I've felt it too. But at the end of the day, it's about acting normally, asking the questions, showing you care and making sure your loved ones are okay. A simple 'Are you alright?' could be the thing that saves someone's life.

You can find out more about our featured charities below, and if you would like to donate you can do so either by text or online through Just Giving. To donate by text message, simply text FFFC91 + your amount to 70070. For example, to donate just £3 (that's less than a pint!), text FFFC91 £3 to 70070.

CALM - https://www.thecalmzone.net/

Andy's Man Club - http://andysmanclub.co.uk/