---
title: "International Men's Day on 19th November: Seven Ways to Ask for Help When You Are the Dad Everyone Leans On"
description: Fathers often carry stress alone. Seven practical ways to ask for help, what to say first and where to call in the UK, ahead of International Men's Day.
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2026-11-07T19:30:46.458Z
updated: 2026-11-07T19:30:46.474Z
canonical: https://richdadmagazine.com/article/international-mens-day-how-dads-can-ask-for-help
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/pexels-5728304.webp
categories: Health & Strength, Fatherhood
content_type: Guide
region: United Kingdom
publication: Rich Dad Magazine
schema_type: Article
---

International Men's Day falls on Thursday 19th November, halfway through Movember. Most of what you read that week will be about men in general. This piece is about you: the father who knows the mortgage date, the school run and which child has outgrown their shoes, and who is usually the last to say that he is struggling.

Asking for help can feel like giving up the one job you are sure of. Your children learn how to handle hard times by watching how you handle yours. A son who sees his father ring a friend or book a GP appointment learns that he can do the same one day.

## Notice the Signs in Yourself

Stress in fathers rarely looks like sadness. It shows up as a shorter temper with the children, poor sleep, an extra drink most evenings, staying late at work to avoid the noise at home or losing interest in the football, the gym or the friends you used to see. If two or three of these have lasted more than a couple of weeks, take them seriously.

Write them down on your phone. A short list makes the problem much easier to say out loud, and it gives you something concrete to show a partner or a doctor.

## Start With One Person You Trust

The first conversation does not need to be a big one. Pick one person: your partner, a brother, an old friend from school or a colleague you get on with. Send a text that does the hard part for you: 'Have you got time for a walk this week? There is something I want to talk through.'

Many men find it easier to talk side by side than face to face. A walk, a drive or an afternoon on the riverbank takes away the pressure of eye contact, which is one reason [outdoor time with your children](https://richdadmagazine.com/article/outdoor-activities-dads-and-kids) works so well for them too.

## Use Words That Feel Like Your Own

You do not need the language of a therapist. Plain sentences work:

- 'I have not been myself for a while.'
- 'I am more stressed than I am letting on.'
- 'I need to talk, and I do not need you to fix it.'

The last one matters most. Partners and friends often rush to solve the problem, and telling them up front that you only want them to listen makes the conversation easier for both of you.

## Talk to Your GP About Your Mental Health

Book a GP appointment the same way you would for a bad back. Say at the start that you want to talk about your mental health, so the doctor knows to give it time. Your GP can check whether something physical, such as poor sleep or another health problem, is behind how you feel, and can refer you to talking therapies or other support.

In England you can also refer yourself to [NHS Talking Therapies](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/find-nhs-talking-therapies-for-anxiety-and-depression/) without seeing a GP first. If you have not had a health check for a while, our guide to [seven health checks for Movember](https://richdadmagazine.com/article/movember-health-checks-jeremy-clarkson-chris-hoy) covers the ones worth booking at the same time.

## Know Where to Call When It Cannot Wait

If things feel urgent, you do not have to wait for an appointment:

- **NHS 111:** call 111 and choose the mental health option, or use [111 online](https://111.nhs.uk/).
- **Samaritans:** call 116 123 for free, at any time of the day or night.
- **999 or A&E:** if your life or someone else's is at risk.

Save these numbers in your phone today, for yourself or for a friend who might need them.

## Tell Your Children in Words They Understand

Children notice when their father is tired, short-tempered or distant, and younger ones often decide it is their fault. A simple explanation stops that: 'Dad has been feeling worn out and grumpy, and I am getting some help so I feel better.' Older children can hear a little more.

Telling them also shows them what to do when their own turn comes. Boys with fewer close friends are more likely to feel lonely, and [the way you handle hard times](https://richdadmagazine.com/article/loneliness-in-boys-7-ways-fathers-can-help) shapes how your son will reach out later.

## Make Asking a Habit, Not an Emergency

The easiest time to ask for help is before you badly need it. Put something regular in the diary with the men in your life: a monthly walk, a Sunday five-a-side game or a standing phone call with an old friend. Many towns also have free peer support groups for men that meet weekly, where nobody has to explain why they came.

International Men's Day gives you an easy reason to start. Send that text on 19th November. Rich Man Magazine has [seven more ways to mark the day](https://richdadmagazine.com/article/international-mens-day-2026-seven-ways-to-mark-it), from writing a letter to your father to helping another man back into work.