Chris McCausland on mental health
- Jake Starkey
Men are often encouraged to keep going, deal with things themselves and avoid showing vulnerability. But struggling with our mental health is something that can affect anyone, and talking openly about difficult experiences can help break down the feeling that we have to face them alone.
As part of our famous voices series, actor and comedian Chris McCausland shares what they have learnt about mental health, the importance of speaking openly about our struggles, and how making a significant change in their own life helped them become kinder towards themselves.
Why is it important to you to speak openly about mental health?
It can be easy to forget that what we see isn’t always the whole story.
Someone else’s life can look perfect from the outside while, behind the scenes, they might be struggling just as much as we are. And when we don’t talk about those difficult parts of life, it’s easy to assume we’re the only one finding things hard. That’s why honest conversations matter.
You don’t have to share everything, or have all the right words. Sometimes simply saying “I’m not doing very well at the moment” can be enough to open the door to a conversation.
Was there a turning point that gave you hope during difficult times?
Probably to stop drinking. I found that the older I got, the meaner and more critical of myself I would become, especially in the aftermath of alcohol. Moderation has never been in my toolbox, but by stopping drinking completely I was able to give myself the best opportunity of being kinder to myself.
For Chris, stopping drinking wasn’t simply about giving something up. It was about changing the way he treated himself.
Being kinder to ourselves can sometimes start with recognising what’s making things harder.
That might mean changing our relationship with alcohol, stepping back from something that isn’t good for us, reconnecting with people we trust or asking for help. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic transformation. Sometimes one change can create the space for another.
If someone reading this is struggling today, what would you want them to hear?
It sounds simple, but being kind to ourselves can be difficult when we’re struggling. We can be far more critical of ourselves than we would ever be of someone else.
Being kinder doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It means giving yourself the same patience and compassion you’d offer to someone you care about.
You can follow Chris McCausland on Instagram at @chrismccauslandcomedy for more of his work and insights.
Explore the Men's Suicide Prevention Hub
If you’re looking for information about men’s mental health, suicide prevention, warning signs, risk factors or where to find support, visit our Men’s Suicide Prevention Hub.
The Hub brings together practical information and resources to help men, and the people around them, better understand the pressures that can affect mental health and suicide risk.
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Chris McCausland’s way of looking after his mental health is unique to what is best for him. Our famous voices series brings together different experiences and perspectives on men’s mental health, helping to challenge the idea that men should simply cope on their own.
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