Emotional vulnerability does not equate to softness. — In this post, I am returning to an idea explored in a previous post on mentoring from Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. But this time, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about male vulnerability from Homer’s beautiful 8th century BC epopee. Here’s a refresher of some relevant bits of the story: Menelaus…

Mental health problems can affect every aspect of our lives and can be experienced by anyone at any point in their life. — Let’s say your girlfriend has an accident, she breaks her hand while playing football. She calls you and you meet her at the A&E at your nearest hospital. You might have to wait for a little (or a few hours), but she’s seen and gets her hand put in plaster…

At the moment, masculinity is a work in progress. — We’ve heard this and accepted that certain aspects of manhood are given. But I find the “boys will be boys” ethos problematic for several reasons. The concept is stagnant and doesn’t introduce any growth. To me, the way one starts out (as a boy) will continue throughout life, with the…

The power of community in children’s upbringing. — If you have been following MAN’s blogs for a while (and I hope you have!), you will remember that I’ve been referencing Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey recently. This is the third and last post completing the trilogy referencing Homer’s work. …

We are more than a week into the New Year, and most of us will have made a few New Year resolutions, objectives, goals or whatever label you prefer to use. According to YouGov nearly 1 in 5 (19%) Brits own up and say they did not keep any of…

My guest blog is Dr. Andrew Parnham covering the topic of wellbeing. What does the word “wellbeing” bring to mind? You might think immediately of such things as aromatherapy, massages, spas, special diets or even off-centre, touchy-feely techniques to “bring body and mind together.” …

Nowhere special was rather special. — The other day a friend recommended we should see ‘Nowhere Special’, a Northern Irish, Romanian and Italian co-production inspired by true events. Three things around the issue of masculinity stood out for me from this beautiful movie. For those who have not seen it, here is what the movie is…

Mentoring is another buzzword that many people talk about in relation to their personal or professional lives nowadays. One of the first mentoring encounters I came across is in Homer’s Odyssey. …

The relationship between sleep and mental health is complex, but here are four tips to better manage your sleep. — There is a lot of talk about mental health these days, and one aspect we find fascinating is the close relationship between sleep and mental health. Sleep deprivation affects your psychological state and mental health. And those with mental health problems are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders.