World Mental Health Day (10th October 2025) is a reminder that mental health is not a niche issue—it touches everyone, whether openly or behind closed doors. Hear from our coach Bronson on men’s mental health.

Why do you think so many men still avoid talking about their mental health—and what’s been the most difficult barrier for you personally?

I think everyone knows that the expected norm for masculinity is to be sturdy and strong. There is a general stigma that men who cry or ask for help are seen as weak, and for the sake of keeping up with society’s impression, men stay silent.

The biggest barrier for me, however, is not staying silent but rather the self-improvement segment of it. Sounding out that I needed help was a breeze compared to the reality of working through whatever help I needed and facing headfirst whatever emotions came along on the journey of self-love.

In a culture that prizes “toughness,” how do you define strength when it comes to mental well-being?

Easy. Strength in mental well-being lies in knowing your boundaries. Same as physical training, sometimes the strongest thing I can do is live to fight another day, and the strength to make a better version of myself beats a PR any day.

Do you think training helps men deal with stress, or do some use the gym to avoid dealing with their actual problems?

Having a gym routine is definitely an outlet, whether to avoid dealing with stress or to avoid personal problems. However, I would like to break down why most turn to physical training to cope with stress. Scientifically, exercising releases mood-boosting endorphins and reduces cortisol levels, which benefits sleep quality, brain functions and most importantly, a sense of achievement. Sometimes when everything is going wrong, we just need one thing to go right. That’s why my personal training philosophy is to always have my clients leave the session feeling better than they came. I never know what someone is going through, but if, through my training, they can find a small sense of belonging, everyone benefits.

A lot of men see therapy as a weakness. Have you ever tried it, or would you—and what would you say to a guy who thinks it’s “not for him”?

Yes, I’ve done therapy. It’s definitely not a weakness. In fact, I see it more as a strength because someone who realises that help is needed and is willing to work on an issue will be better off than someone who functions with a ‘tough it out’ mentality. Nothing bad ever comes from knowing yourself better and learning how to process your own emotions and thoughts. I love myself 🙂

What’s one thing you wish younger men understood about mental health that could save them years of struggle?

I wish men of all ages would see and understand that working on themselves (mentally) is also working on every aspect of their lives. Be it relationships, career or personal development, the ability to process (emotions) is a superpower. There is no ego, and there should be no ego involved when it comes to mental well-being, because if you won’t care for yourself, no one else can do anything for you. I implore everyone, not just men, if you do hear someone stigmatising mental health, share with them the importance of taking care of themselves.

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