Mental Health Stigma: Jamie Laing on the Importance of Men’s Conversations
The conversation around mental health has grown significantly in recent years, but there is still a stigma surrounding men discussing their emotions. Jamie Laing, a 36-year-old presenter and podcast host, is encouraging men to speak up about their mental health, having experienced a "lowest point" in his own life.
According to an interview with Breaking News, Laing revealed that his first panic attack 14 years ago left him feeling "lonely and isolated." He didn’t understand what was happening and felt embarrassed and scared. "Back then, this conversation around mental health that we have now, didn’t exist. I was feeling very lonely and isolated within myself. I also felt embarrassed and scared about what I was feeling," Laing said.
Laing, who hosts the podcast NewlyWeds with his wife Sophie Habboo, emphasized the importance of men sharing their emotions. He recalled a "huge moment of relief" when he finally opened up to a friend about his feelings. "After telling him how I was feeling, I got an echo back and he told me not to worry. He said that we would go through it together," Laing shared with Breaking News.
Laing believes that men need to gather their friend groups and genuinely ask how everyone feels. He and his friends have a WhatsApp group chat called ‘Checking In’ where they discuss their emotions. "It’s a beautiful thing. It’s really amazing," Laing said. The group was formed after they all went for drinks together and realized that they all felt lonely at times.
Laing recently completed an Ultra Marathon Man Challenge for Comic Relief, running 150 miles over five days and raising over £2 million. He credits his friends and family for their support during the challenge, which he found both physically and mentally demanding. "While I was running, the things that were going through my head was thinking of everyone who donated, which was really amazing. I also thought a lot about my wife," Laing told Breaking News.
Laing’s experience during the challenge taught him that pain is temporary, and he applied this mindset to his mental health struggles. "You just have to think that it is temporary. You will get through it. I promise you, it will pass," Laing said. He encourages men to accept that their emotions are valid, talk about them, and engage in exercise to improve their mental well-being.
The idea of success has changed for Laing, who used to be a cast member of reality show Made In Chelsea. He now sees success as being open and vulnerable, kind, and a good friend. "I think it can be dangerous that we aren’t being open and honest about the way we feel and that we’re putting on this bravado attitude," Laing said. He advises his younger self to stop caring about what others think and to be more open about his emotions.
As Laing continues to be part of the public discourse around men’s mental health, he hopes to inspire others to join the conversation. "What I now see as success as is being open and vulnerable, or being a kind person, a good friend, colleague – whatever it may be," Laing said, as reported by Breaking News.
