Men’s Health Week – Men’s Health Matters.

Putting the ‘Men’ in Mental Health during Men’s Health Week

While it is recognised that there is a sustained increase in psychosocial disorders in men, including alcohol and substance abuse and domestic violence, men’s increasing aggression and auto-aggression remains unsolved health and societal problem. (6)  Again, this is where Naturopathy has a part to play, offering insight that may be missed by mainstream medicine. For example, a common test we conduct in young men presenting with mental health concerns in our clinic is Pyrrole disorder (read more about Pyrrole). In some cases, this is the missing piece to the mental health puzzle that provides insight into why problems may be occurring.

Our resident Cannon Hill Naturopath, Mark Westhead, specialises in Mental health, Men’s health and Digestive health and emphasises that talking about mental health is a great place to start. Mark points to the fact that whilst women are likely to talk to their circle of friends and seek medical help about mental health issues, men are less likely. “Men are more inclined to try to fix a personal health issue themselves because many view it as a personal failing or weakness. That’s why women need to encourage their male loved ones to open up about their struggle and seek help.”

Mark is encouraged by more male celebrities coming forward and talking about their mental health struggles. Sportspeople disclosing their mental health issues are identified as a positive influence for other men’s help-seeking and help develop help-seeking as a social norm. (7) As professional sportspeople appear to be in peak physical health, yet can still experience mental health problems, this demonstrates the need for good nutrition, healthy digestion and supplement support, especially when there is increased demands on the body. Mark relates the importance of a naturopathic approach: “a nourished body can do the job it was designed to do.”

In his practice, Mark will focus on his patients on the relationship of both the gut and mental health called the Gut-Brain Axis. In his experience, most people struggling with Anxiety also have gut problems such as reflux, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea, commonly seen in conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Mark also explains why there may be biochemical pathways that need to be addressed. “Neurotransmitters that are used in the brain and body are made from the proteins in our diet. Dietary proteins are broken down into amino acids and then reassembled in whatever sequence the body needs. If the gut isn’t functioning at an optimum level, those amino acids, along with the minerals and vitamins needed as co-factors for these biochemical pathways, may become dysfunctional.” He employs some simple and effective questionnaires to identify amino acid deficiencies, enabling him to provide supplements that will improve Neurotransmitter function.