York and North Yorkshire mayor David Skaith has spoken candidly about his own mental health battle. He accomplished this in the context of a council meeting particularly aimed at advancing men’s mental health across the region. He is a son, whose deep pain at losing his father, Bob, in 2021 is palpable. It made that loss feel even worse during the often isolating days of the coronavirus pandemic.
In the wake of his father’s passing, Mayor Skaith noticed that he was starting to isolate himself. He confessed to isolating himself entirely, which forced him to no longer see his family and friends. This separation exacerbated his sadness and prolonged his healing process.
“After losing my dad during the coronavirus pandemic I completely shut myself off and I stopped spending time with my family and friends,” said Mayor Skaith.
He found that opening up about his pain was an important part of the healing process. The mayor underscored the importance of talking about feelings. Talking about his grief allowed him to work through his loss. He admitted that participating in physical activity and connecting with others were critical parts of his recovery process.
“Men will go running and go to the gym but how much are we actually doing to look after our head space too?” he questioned, highlighting a common societal overlook regarding men’s mental health.
Mayor Skaith is convinced York and North Yorkshire can lead the way in addressing men’s mental health challenges. His goal is to continue to break the stigma surrounding this very important topic. In parliament, he fought hard for the establishment of a national men’s mental health taskforce. This program would help us deliver the best resources and support to men going through all sorts of challenges.
Statistics underscore the urgency of this initiative. Suicide is the number one cause of death for men 50 and younger. Shockingly, nearly 80 percent of these guys will experience a mental health disorder of any kind in their lifetime.
Mayor Skaith leads the charge in advocating for better mental health resources. He wants each of you to share your stories, good and bad, just as freely. He uses his story to advocate for a more honest conversation around mental health among men. His overall vision is to motivate more positive change throughout the community.
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