A summary of the Jonathan’s Voice and IP Inclusive webinar held on February 5th
The speaker was TEDx Speaker, trainer and coach Ryan Parke, who focusses on the impact of hormones, lifestyle and goal setting on male mental health. Delivered through a combination of science, story and strategy, this fascinating talk shared the science of male mental health and offered simple steps to support the men you care about.
This summary was written by Anne Burgato and first appeared on the IP Inclusive website and we are grateful to be able to reproduce it here.
Ryan’s research
Ryan started his research into male mental health after a friend died by suicide. The friend had engaged with talking therapy and taken anti-depressants, so Ryan wanted to understand what more could be done to support men who are struggling.
Based on an evidence-based framework drawing upon over 1000 sources, Ryan focussed in on the link between testosterone levels and both mental and physical health in men. Contrary to popular myth that testosterone is associated with aggression, it actually has a calming effect on men and boys. Further, it is vital for heart health, as well as mental wellbeing in men.
He shared that:
- Men with depression have lower testosterone levels on average than those without depression.
- While not widely studied, the limited evidence available suggests that low testosterone in men may be associated with suicide.
