The Mates In Mind website is supporting this year's Men's Health Week with support for action to help those suffering from mental ill health and to help to prevent suicide.

 

Explaing the importance of Men's Health Week, their website has this:

The following shocking statistics emphasise why Men’s Health Week is so important: 

• ‘Boys and men often experience undiagnosed mental health issues, with behavioural problems in boys leading to poor lifetime outcomes. Evidence suggests that boys and men are less likely to seek mental health care, yet suicide rates among young men and men generally remain high’ (Department of Health & Social Care).
• Around three quarters of suicides registered in England and Wales in 2023 were male (75.3%) (ONS).
• One man in five dies before the age of 65 (Men’s Health Forum). 
• Four in five suicides are by men, with suicide the biggest cause of death for men under 35 (UK Parliament). 
• According to the a private healthcare wellbeing index:

• 43% of working British men are urging their employers to provide greater mental health support.
• 50% of men have struggled with mental health difficulties at some point, yet fewer than half have sought medical advice.
• 37% of UK men admit actively hiding their mental health issues from their partners.
• 30% of men surveyed said they didn’t know where to turn for advice or support.
• 65% of employees recognise that stigma around men’s mental health remains strong.’

The annual Men's Health Week is organised by Men's Health Forum because they believe, as do Trade Unions and the CWU, that good health means being mentally and physically well.

Like the CWU's North West Mental Health Network, they advocate for everyone seeking help when they need it, and provide information and supporrt, such as the E-Library, signposting services, and news coverage of local and nationl initiatives.

Again, as do the CWU, they raise awareness of mental health, encouraging everyone to start a conversation about it, and for organisations to implement effective interventions to address it, so that, together we can end the stigma that surrounds it.

The Men's Health Forum advocate for change through responding to government inquiries; working with researchers to provide evidence on effective interventions, contributing to mental health initiatives and by working in collaboration with our Supporters to build positive mental health in and through work. 

You can check out this website's E-Library which provides dedicated documentation on Mental Health, and supporting organisations providing help and support.

 

A few of the CWU's Mental Health First Aiders have put together a number of video messages regardijng mental health, which you can watch here

Source: CWU / Mens Health Forum / Mates In Mind / unionsafety