
Men commit suicide, in our society, at four times the rate of women. Why is that and why is it a serious problem for men and society in general? In Five Steps to Men’s Mental Health, Dr. Matthew Anderson attempts to analyse the problem and more importantly provide solutions to men who are unwilling to seek help at present, but understand they have a problem or are currently under treatment for mental health issues. Dr. Anderson seeks to provide practical exercises that will help men understand the differences in their thought processes, from women, always with the underlying theme that it is important to seek help (from anyone that is available) before it is too late. Although men suicide more than women, the Doctor notes that women seek professional help for mental issues, much more readily than men. This is clearly the problem and Dr. Anderson seeks to address this.
As a non-medical person, with a history of some issues in this area, I truly found this book enlightening and incredibly helpful. Although I feel totally in control of my mental health today, I could clearly see some of the patterns Dr. Anderson describes in Five Steps to Men's Mental Health, as having occurred in my own past and not always having been dealt with appropriately. The beauty of this book, from a layman’s perspective, is that it is not technical and full of jargon. Dr. Anderson pulls no punches and tells it like it is. He sets some very practical exercises that allow us, as men, to look at our behaviours, ask ourselves, “are they normal” and to act on correcting them, all preferably without having to seek professional help. If you are concerned about your own mental health, or even that of your partner, you will gain a great deal from reading and understanding this excellent and instructive guide. I highly recommend this book.
