' I guess for men, we can at times try to solve all our problems or worries internally, without reaching out to others for advice or support '

Men’s mental health is something that is still not spoken about enough with three-quarters of suicide victims being male. We asked Sam Lehane, the co-founder of MYO about his experience with mental health and here's what he had to say about it.

What does mental health mean to you?
To me, it is trying to make my personal life, career and relationships more aligned in such a way that makes me feel happy, healthy and content with an optimistic outlook on life. This is easier said than done for sure, but I have found being intentional and tweaking elements of my life has made things better for me.
 
After working on my mental health over the last 2 years, I don't feel as stressed or as anxious about things as I used to, which ultimately has given me a lot more energy to focus on things that are important to me and given me extra confidence. If I can do it, many other people can! I should also state I do not have a history of diagnosed mental health, just experience of the typical stresses and anxious moments modern-day life can bring.
 

Do you find talking about mental health as a man taboo? If yes, do you have any advice on how to overcome that?
I used to for sure. But I have grown to realise that the more it is talked about, especially in a practical, non-judgemental and supportive way, the better. Sadly, suicide still remains one of the biggest causes of death each year for men.
 
I guess for men, we can at times try to solve all our problems or worries internally, without reaching out to others for advice or support - which can help surface potential pathways to help solve problems we may be facing. Maybe this is due to embarrassment or some other reason, I’m not sure. I can only speak to my expericence. It is very difficult to not be stressed or anxious these days as the world is evolving so fast and there are so many things going on at the same time - politics, war, information overload, technology etc.
 
Every time I have spoken to someone about my mental health, I have felt better about it. Without fail. I don't speak to everyone about it, but have close friends that care about me and I about them and I would speak to them if needed. I have also found being creative with a mate and chatting through things can do wonders.
 
On the other hand, if you have a friend, family member or colleague who has gone quiet or appears to be quite negative, anxious or stressed, spend the time with them to figure out if anything is troubling them and listen (don't judge), if they are happy to share. A problem shared is a problem halved.
 
How important is mental health when setting up a business?
In hindsight - very!
Keeping care of your mental health will allow for better focus, decision making and all sorts of other good things. It's incredibly difficult to step away from your business as a founder in the early days as it is essentially your sole priority (unless you have kids). It is also likely to be the driver of whether you feel happy or sad on any given day. Being brutally honest, I think it's hard for that to not be the case as you care so much about what you are building, particularly if it is your first business. But, as your experience and business starts to grow you develop a team around you, and your ego becomes less attached to the business (or at least you should try to make that the case), it gets better mental health wise.
 
You also learn that not everything is as serious as you may have felt initially and that all you can really do is focus on what you can control and do your best at each day. It can be hard to let go of the things you can't control as an early stage founder, but it is key to long-term success, in my opinion. Lastly, staying healthy so you don't burn out is really important. Fitting in regular exercise will save you time and give you more focused energy over the long-term. I wish I did more of that when I set up M.Y.O!
 

What do you do to look after your mental health? 
In short, lots of little things! My mornings are key for me to stay healthy and get into a positive and clear mindset. Every time I fully complete my morning routine my day goes so much better, I feel happier and more energised. Without fail! An ideal day looks like this currently.
 
Wake up before 6.30am.
I will then journal and practice gratitude and do 1-2 mins of breathwork (the Memento Mori app helps a lot with all this).
I will then read for 10-15 minutes and take my Heights pill for my brain and an Actimel for my gut
Every 2nd morning I will do a 5k run or go to the gym.
After that, I will have a cold shower, as it’s great for the immune system.
Around 8 am I plan my day.
Before I start work I go outside for 2 minutes to get some sunshine.
Crack on with work around 8.30/9am.
 
I take some regular breaks for fresh air every hour when I can, re-set in the middle of the day and right now, generally work until 7 or 8pm as my current job is quite intense (but I love it!). When I finish for the day I reflect on how it went, review my to-do and then switch off from work. Sometimes a walk helps with this or doing something creative . If I still feel very wired, I may do a short meditation or do some more breathwork. I also consciously try to surround myself with people who care about me and I them.
 
Another key thing for me is at the start of the year having a deep think about what a great year looks like and then turning that into your goals for the year ahead. I will set dates throughout the year for when I want to achieve this and review monthly. The goals could be anything from running a marathon (I haven't!) to creating the best morning routine or trying to eat less Deliveroos. Every month, I check in to see how I am working towards my goals. If I’ve not made progress I ask myself 'why not?'. You'll be surprised how much is in your control around the goals you may set and the energy you can get by achieving them can be brilliant. Be specific about the goals. Run a marathon by X date, no more than 1 Deliveroo a month, exercise 3 times per weeks etc.

So, to round up. Get clear on what a good year looks like for you and set some goals, surround yourself with good energy, try to exercise regularly, only try to worry about what you can control and find a morning routine that works for you, to set you up for a good day. If you can do that you're half way to better mental health and happiness (at least!) I reckon. You can do it!