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Alongside growing a mo to save a bro for the annual Movember campaign in support of men’s mental health, our very own Chief HR Officer, Gareth Way, gave his own talk about his journey and insights on men’s health in conversation with Molly Downs.
Gareth shared his story and covered a range of key topics and tools that play an important role in shaping men’s health today. Here’s what we learned.
The Challenges Men Face With Mental Health
The research is clear: compared to women, many men still struggle to talk about their mental health with each other without stigma, suicide rates are far higher amongst men, and they are less likely to seek support in general.
At a time where technologies like social media emphasise the challenging times we are living in, championing awareness, support, and self-care has never been more important.
Gareth shared a range of experiences in his talk; dealing with anxiety at school during exam season, experiencing depression after losing a loved one, and dealing with shame and stress amid unexpected financial difficulties in his career.
Gareth experienced a kind of ‘tunnel vision’ that comes with mental health challenges; what we hold in mind gets amplified and seems so big that it starts to take over our lives: our focus, our thoughts, and sense of self. He pointed out that in hindsight, this was all compounded by locking up inside and not sharing what he was going through.
Others may not see it or even know how to deal with it, but when we are vulnerable, more often than not we’ll be met with care and support. Gareth mentioned an experience with a family member, who gave him some love, albeit a tough kind, that helped him to make a change and realise that in many ways the struggles he was dealing with seemed bigger in his mind. It was a transformative moment for Gareth that helped him to take back control.
Another lifechanging development for Gareth was discovering NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), a toolkit for ‘mind management’ that allows people to do things like alter their state of mind using techniques, understand other perspectives, heal trauma by making contact with our unconscious, and more.
Gareth happily notes that these days we collectively have a much better vocabulary, toolkit, and awareness of how mental and physical health works. More work needs to be done, but these developments can all help us to live better, happier, and healthier lives.
The Importance of Talking
Gareth deeply believes in the benefits of talking to people who we trust and who can offer support: whether it’s through space and presence, empathy, or guidance.
An ongoing challenge for men is that they’re reluctant to talk, and a big part of it is that they aren’t sure how to approach such conversations. It can be uncomfortable not only to be vulnerable, but to really connect with another’s vulnerability too.
Gareth’s advice either way? Make the thoughtful effort, be yourself, and don’t hold yourself to a perfectionistic standard. Sincerity, concern, and a desire to help is all that’s needed; no need for therapy-speak, just show up as yourself whether you’re struggling or in a position to support.
Gareth keenly stresses the benefits that physical exercise can offer to our mental health. Hitting the gym, taking a run, eating healthier; these are some options we can take to improve our physical and mental health. Physical and mental health are inextricably linked.
Whether it’s through meditation apps, yoga, gyms, counselling, therapy, coaching, diet or more, we can start a shift in our state of mind using a range of physical and mental tools.
Gareth closed by talking about how we’re in two places at once: there’s cause to celebrate the great progress that’s been made in awareness and support, but there’s also more we can do individually and as a collective.
For men, the three biggest challenges of raising awareness, reducing the stigma around getting support and talking, and reducing the atrocious suicide figures across the globe, are key focuses. By supporting Movember and giving this talk, Gareth and other Creditsafers such as our Mental Health First Aider team, are helping to improve health for men and women at work and in our communities.
A big thanks to Gareth for giving this talk, to Molly for her thoughtful questions, and to the Creditsafers and readers like yourself for tuning in! Let’s continue working together to make improved wellbeing and health an experience we can all enjoy as we move into 2026 and beyond.