THE MESOA COMMUNITY

A non-judgemental, educational, online community where men can learn and talk openly about anything – and feel completely comfortable about doing so.

From Suicidal Thoughts To Working With Brotectors

One day I will always remember forever, and this is what inspires me to keep pushing, I returned home from a long day at work, sat on my sofa and just burst into tears. I recall thinking I have no purpose.

As a mental health doctor, I see first-hand the Covid-19 effects on the well-being of people but especially on men.

It’s predicted that we will see higher rates of most mental illnesses and we have already noticed that depression and anxiety disorders are particularly connected to lockdown

My Year of Isolation

I will open by saying I am in no way a professional in mental health. This is simply the story of my 2019, and how I held myself together during my year of isolation. I’m on a steady, and happy road to recovery now, taking back control of my life one step at a time. This is what helped me, and I hope it can in some way help you too.

A Difficult Transition

Throughout my professional career I never really fully understood the issues surrounding mental health until I became affected. Playing rugby for over 17 years was a privilege and something I never took for granted. I felt as if I had been chosen, one of the lucky ones and I knew one day it would have to come to a stop. We all say that we are ready to stop, but who are we kidding? To play a sport 90% of the population do for a hobby professionally is something to be very proud of and becomes part of your DNA.

Drink, Drugs and Football

In the mid-80s, I started going to football in London with my mates. Being the mid-80s and being a bunch of impressionable, fashion conscious 15 year-old lads about town, out for the latest thrill, the London football scene of the time was an incredibly attractive scene to get involved with; fashion, music, alcohol and violence. They were like magnets to lads like us.

Don’t be afraid to have that conversation.

“Mental Health” We hear or see these words pretty much every day in 2019, whether it be on social media, newspaper or TV. If I had to describe what a person with a mental health illness looked like as a teenager back in 2003 Id have described a person in a straight jacket being held down by nurses in an asylum...

LESSONS FORGED IN BATTLE

So, who am I, and why do I want to help men around the world find their voice? My life journey so far has been, well, a flurry of life-changing events that have opened my eyes up to the world and who I really am. My childhood was turbulent.

IN THE PURSUIT OF RELEVANCE

Just a little over 2 years ago, I found myself in the trickiest and most uncomfortable situation I had ever experienced. Even more so than the numerous times I had been out on patrol and in contacts in the hot sun, eating dust – whilst trying to keep me and my brothers around me alive.

FREEDOM MACHINES

I’m into my fifth year of riding motorcycles and still believe that it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. At the time that I started to learn, I knew no one else that rode bikes. I had no point of reference for it, other than what I could get through digital connections.

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We started MESOA for a reason: your peace of mind.

As a proud, male grooming brand, we not only want to change the way men groom for the better but the way they live for the better too. That’s why a percentage of our profits go to male suicide charities.

We want to normalise conversations about men’s mental health, encouraging men to open up and speak to one another.

Talking about our feelings and how we feel on the inside is just as important, if not more so, than how we look on the outside.

We’ve come a long way in recent years but there’s still so much more to be done. Cavemen were happy simply splashing water on their faces, and all your grandad’s grooming was done with one bar of soap.

Likewise, a stiff upper lip and an unwillingness to open up was the order of the day back then.

Times have changed.

From fitness to food; financial wealth to mental health; beard oils to moisturisers, we want to create a community where you, and men just like you, can share your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

This is your chance to share your story with others; whether it’s a story of recovery or simply how you’re feeling right now we’d love for you to contribute to the MESOA Community.

We ask for nothing in return (you don’t even have to buy our great products, though we’d love it if you did!); simply upload your story here and include images or a video of your choice