Former Boyzone star flew the flag for men’s health when he bravely opened up about his struggles with mental health. Ronan appeared on the first ever all male line up on Loose Women for International Men’s Day last year to open the door on men opening up when struggling mentally.
Talking about the need to maintain your mental health like your physical health, Ronan explained: “I get help whenever I am feeling fragile, if I need to lean on somebody.
“My wife can tell if I am overstressed, working too hard, things are getting on my back.
“Or maybe it’s a certain date that reminds me of something that’s happened, someone who has passed away, I talk to my therapist Dan.
“I will say to Storm, ‘Do you think it’s time to speak to Dan?’
“He gives me tools and I can take those home and maybe be a better person.”
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Talking therapies can help all sorts of people in lots of different situations, said the NHS.
The health body added: “You may also hear them referred to as counselling, talking treatments or psychological therapies.
“Talking therapy is for anyone who’s going through a bad time or has emotional problems they need help with.”
The benefits of talking therapy can help with a number of mental health issues which include:
- Difficult life events such as bereavement or redundancy
- Relationship problems
- Events from your past that still cause you distress – consciously or unconsciously
- Difficult feelings such as anger, shame or low self-esteem
- Mental health problems
- Some long-term physical health conditions.
For Ronan, the self-confessed “worrier”, opening up about dark struggles has been a God sent particularly after the loss of mum Marie who died from breast cancer and fellow Boyzone star, Stephen Gately who passed away back in 2009.
“I lost my mum when I was 21. That was hard – that’s still hard today, not having her around, especially when I look at my kids and think what they’ve missed out on too.”
Speaking about Stephen’s death, Ronan added: “It scarred us.
“You just don’t expect anything like that to happen to someone you know and love so much, and at such a young age, with so much living left to do.”
Talking therapy should be an open-ended dialogue about any issues or concerns a person is facing.
A psychotherapist may take notes while a person shares information about their family life, relationships, childhood experiences, and symptoms or history of a condition, to name a few examples.
A therapist may recommend regular sessions until they and the person have come up with an action plan for treatment or until the person has made lifestyle improvements.
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