November is Men’s Mental Health Month, and At Soul, we’ve always believed that self-care isn’t just about candles and calm scents, but about self care - taking the time to check in with yourself and the people around you. And that includes the men in your life!
It might sound like a bit of a sweeping generalisation, but men are notoriously bad about talking about their feelings. We’re sure there are some exceptions to the rule, but the stats don’t lie.
Nearly 40% of men say they wouldn’t talk to anyone about their mental health, often because they’ve “learned to deal with it”, fear being a burden, or feel awkward.
This month, we wanted to use our platform to do some good. Throughout November, 10% of all sales from our Nero range will be donated to Mind, a charity that’s been there for the men of Soul through some difficult times in their life. Mind provides support and guidance for anyone struggling with their mental health, and their work is invaluable.
We chose Nero for this campaign because it’s our most grounding fragrance - a scent that represents focus and balance and one that many of our customers tell us the men in their lives love. It’s also a favourite among the Soul team and is without a doubt our most masculine fragrance, so it felt like the perfect fit for a month that’s all about reflection and care.
To mark Men’s Mental Health Month, we sat down with Joe and Nick - two of our directors here at Soul - to record a special episode of The Soul Sessions Podcast.
They spoke honestly about the importance of opening up, checking in with friends, and learning to talk about what’s really going on. Both agreed that awareness is growing and things are moving in the right direction, but there’s still a way to go before men feel completely comfortable having those conversations. The episode will be out in mid-November so make sure you follow us on Spotify to be notified when it launches.
Our hope is that by talking about it - even in small ways - we help normalise it. Because mental health (and self-care) isn’t a gendered issue; it’s a human one. And every open conversation helps chip away at the stigma.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact Mind by calling 0300 123 3393 or visiting mind.org.uk.