On the eve of International Men’s Day – 19 November – Youth Council members Salim and Daniel speak openly with Top Blokes ambassador, Harry Garside about the emotional highs and lows that young men face today and strategies for navigating these experiences with resilience and authenticity.
Here are some of the highlights:
The power of talking and staying active
Harry shares his personal journey of emotional regulation, highlighting the importance of staying active and talking openly. While training has always been an anchor for him, he discovered that communication with trusted friends and mentors is equally essential. “Training plays a massive role in regulating my emotions… but for me, talking is actually a massive aspect as well, a massive pillar to regulate my emotions,” Harry explained.
Combatting instant gratification
Harry candidly shares his experiences with both constructive and negative coping habits. He discusses how easy it is to fall into the trap of instant gratification, such as doomscrolling or getting involved in actions that might not serve you well. However, he emphasises the importance of starting with small positive routines. “Honouring my word… when I say I’m going to do something, actually do it. Start small… Then when you start feeling a little more positive, start growing it and do better and bigger things,” he shares.
Salim’s perspective echoed Harry’s message.”True change takes time and consistent effort,” adds Salim.
Embracing challenges
For young men who struggle with self-worth and identity, Harry’s advice is clear: find your community and become capable. He speaks about the importance of finding activities that ignite passion, whether it be sports, creative outlets, or quality time with friends. “Find that thing that adds fuel to your flame and become capable… find the community that accepts you for you,” he says.
Feeling the pain to grow stronger
Harry points out that young men often distract themselves from difficult emotions, like the heartache of a breakup, only to face them more intensely later. “I think just trying to attack it more front on and feeling the emotions in the moment rather than running away… It’s going to hit me in 18 months’ time,” he says.
Harry Garside’s experiences, combined with Salim and Daniel’s perspectives as young men, show us the realities of mental health and give us some strategies to build our resilience. It’s a reminder that young males deserve to be seen for who they are and that their voices matter in creating a positive future.
Catch the full conversation and join us in reshaping the narrative around mental health and wellbeing for young males.
