– I have always been a thinker and thought about life and the meaning of it. Philip Jonson (38) stands over the road bike and fixes a pedal that is not fully seated. The bicycle has been the way both around the home town of Engeløya in Steigen, and out of heavy thoughts. Now he hopes that the bicycle can get more young men out of their doldrums. How? Philip Jonson cycled 22 laps around his hometown, Engeløya, both this summer and last summer to raise money for men and mental health. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news By talking together. He has given the cycling campaign the name “talk about it man”. The number of suicides, and deaths caused by alcohol and drugs rose markedly in 2023, figures from the Institute of Public Health show. For the first time, there is also excess mortality among young people under the age of 40. Men in particular are at risk. The Mental Health organization believes that more people like Philip are needed. – The fact that he shares his story and says that he needs help makes him a role model for many, says leader Ole Marius Johnsen. One suicide a year Philip Jonson thinks he has been worried about his life. At least since he went to secondary school. Most of the times he got through it himself, without thinking about it. But twice it has almost gone wrong. – Now the heavy thoughts bounce off, because I’m fine. But when you are clinically depressed, you don’t have that shield. Then something will fuel you. With a bicycle helmet on his head, many of Jonson’s heavy thoughts are scratched. He believes that sports and training can be part of the solution for several men. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news Jonson has now cracked codes and gained tools that enable him to handle the dark thoughts better: Among other things, talking to others and going for a bike ride. This summer he did both while raising money to help other men with their mental health. It is not just Jonson who has struggled with heavy thoughts in Steigen. Engeløya in Steigen, which Philip Jonson cycles around, is not far from Lofoten. Only the Vestfjord lies between them. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news Figures from FHI show that there is about one suicide a year in Steigen. This means that the suicide rate in Steigen is 15.3 per 100,000 population years. The national average is 12.1 per 100,000. Finnmark county is at the top of the list, and Telemark and Vestfold are also higher. Facts about suicide in Norway A total of 693 suicides were recorded in 2023. That is 70 more than in 2022. Only in 1988 was a higher number of suicides recorded. The mortality rate, i.e. the number of suicides per 100,000 population years, is at the level of 2018. Before this, we have to go all the way back to 1999 to find a higher mortality rate. More men than women commit suicide. In 2023, 71 percent of suicides were among men. This has also been the case in previous years. For the first time, in 2023, excess mortality will also be seen among young people under 40. In 2023, 958 people aged 1–39 died in Norway, compared to 831 in 2022. 147 deaths were drug-related. Source: https://www.fhi.no/nyheter/2024/dodsarsaker-i-norge-i-2023/ But the story has been darker. Between 2014 and 2018, the suicide rate in Steigen was a whopping 39.4. Then the corresponding figure for Norway was 11.6. Two of those who have taken their own lives were Jonson’s friends. He got to ride the first one for the first time. When another friend committed suicide the following year, he did it again. – I had to do something. It is not dangerous to show emotions. If the alternative is not to live, it is much easier to just talk about it. – Nine men a week Ole Marius Johnsen is national manager of Mental Health. It is an organization that works for those who have psychological challenges. According to Johnsen, 71 percent of those who commit suicide are men. National leader in Mental Health, Ole-Marius Minde Johnsen, says that a large part of their membership is now men. Nevertheless, a lot must be done for men to talk about their feelings. Photo: Emilie Gjengedal Vatnøy – There are nine men a week. There is a brother, a father, a son and a friend. Those are horrific numbers. Therefore, we must take it seriously. Over several years, they have worked to create discussion groups and activities for men in their local teams. They also work against the politicians. – The collection for Philip helps to strengthen the work we do for men’s mental health. It actually makes it better. Philip Jonson has called his cycling campaign “talk about it man”. He has also decorated his cycling clothes with it. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news But why is it such a big problem? Johnsen thinks it is about the male role historically. This has also emerged in the recent report to the Male Role Committee. – It is often about men being the safe breadwinner, creating security and providing financial predictability. But things happen in life, and we are not good enough to talk about it. Create a festival to reverse the trend When the suicide statistics looked at their worst, the local population had had enough. Some of them got together and made a festival they called “God nok”. It has an extra focus on mental health. Anna Holand (left) sits with her sister, Kristin Holand. They have both worked within culture to focus on mental health. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news – Several people in the area had killed themselves. I sat with some neighbors and talked about what we could do, which brought people together in a positive way. That’s what Anna Holand says, who was primo’s driving force at the first festival. – Now we gather around a joint project that has deep value at the bottom. Everyone stands up and wants to have a better society. It is one of the finest things I know. This year, Philip Jonson cycled around Engeløya at the same time as the God Nok festival was held. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news The festival has now been held five times. This year, Truls Teting is responsible for preparedness. It is especially important at a festival that has put mental health on the agenda. – We touch people’s souls quite closely. That is why we also take preparedness seriously. The consequences of not doing so can be very large. Ingar Strand, chief municipal doctor in Steigen, says that he has no basis to say anything about the reason why there are more suicides in Steigen than in the rest of the country. – What is challenging about small numbers and small municipalities is that one suicide can have large numerical effects in the statistics. Nevertheless, they have men’s health as a theme in the municipality’s public health plan. Cycling as therapy Last year, as this year, Jonson cycled 22 laps around Engeløya during the campaign. This year he collected just under NOK 100,000 for Mental Health. Last year he collected around NOK 230,000, but then there was a lot of benefit from local businesses. He thinks men may need different meeting places than women. Training can be such a natural meeting place where you can talk to each other about how you are feeling. – To date, I have never regretted a bike ride, says Jonson. A chat about how you are actually doing can also happen over a cup of coffee, Jonson believes, but more often it is easier when you are busy. As in a bike ride. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news He nevertheless points out that there are no simple solutions to serious psychological problems. It is about medication, therapy and how you talk to yourself. Cycling is not enough in itself. He therefore believes that society has a key role to play in reversing the dramatic trend of suicide among men. But then it is essential to have a good professional device that can also have a preventive effect on people. Johnsen in Mental Health believes that low-threshold services such as rapid mental health care must be in place across the country. These must also be aimed at men. The local community in Steigen believes that more people like Philip Jonson are needed, who dare to speak openly about heavy feelings. Mental Health agrees with them. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news The municipal supervisor in Steigen, Ingar Strand, says that there are several employees in Steigen municipality who work with mental health, and advises people who are struggling to take this up with their GP his. – We need leading figures like Philip who focus on mental health and who dare to talk about the topic. The emergency manager at the God Nok festival in the village also agrees. – Philip’s initiative is so tough. The fact that he fronts to talk about it makes me moved, says Teting. Published 01.09.2024, at 18.31
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Philip Jonson in Steigen cycles to get men to talk about feelings – news Nordland
