November 19th celebrates International Men’s Day every year and highlights the importance of men’s mental health. Specifically focusing on men and boys coping and living with violence, homelessness, suicide, abuse, and alienation because of their gender.
The global awareness day aims to celebrate positive male role models, and men in families and communities. It also emphasizes the need to encourage men to talk about their mental health openly and safely.
It highlights the need to address the male suicide crisis and discrimination towards men. Also advocating for men’s wellbeing and health concerns, to improve gender relations and gender equality. It also aims to celebrate diversity and create a safer and better world for all genders.
In recent times, we have seen a growing concern for suicide rates in men. In 2021, The Office for National Statistics reported that “around three-quarters of suicides were males.” This is a very worrying statistic, and it is clear that men in the UK need more and continued support with their mental health struggles.
The reasons for the high suicide rates in men are not fully understood. However, some reasons and risk factors include mental health problems, abuse, bullying, discrimination, trauma, substance abuse, relationship problems, or socioeconomic problems such as lack of work.
Here are some signs to look out for if someone close to you is thinking about taking their own life.
Signs to look out for:
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling like they are a burden
- Threatening to hurt themselves
- Talking about or researching suicide
- Continuous low mood
- Changes in mood
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Detaching themselves for social occasions
If you do see or hear any of these signs, it is really important to seek help and support for that individual.
Here are some ways to celebrate International Men’s Day in the workplace:
- Signpost
Encouraging men to seek support and help with their mental health is a fundamental step to care for your male colleagues and supports International Men’s Day’s objectives.
Signposting different ways in which men can reach out to find help when they need it is a great way to make sure the men in the workplace have the resources they need when in a mental health crisis. All while encouraging a positive work culture around mental health, giving men the confidence to talk about their struggles.
Create posters, leaflets, emails, and newsletters detailing helpful websites, phone numbers and other information to create as much awareness about men’s mental health support as possible.
- Celebrate male role models
Celebrating male role models provides a platform for men to feel accepted, needed, and appreciated.
Celebrate the men in your and your colleague’s lives who make a positive contribution to society, the community, or the workplace.
Encourage your colleagues to do the same by setting them easy tasks, such as writing a short sentence about appreciating a man in their lives. This could go into a newsletter, email, or blog focused on celebrating men.
Or you could celebrate famous celebrities who support and promote men’s mental health and wellbeing. You could create a short meeting or discussion group during the working day to discuss why you are grateful for the men in your life.
- Donate
Making a difference in men’s and boy’s mental wellbeing comes with a price for many dedicated charities. Donating to certified men’s mental health charities is a great way to show your support.
Create a collection day for everyone in the workplace to donate if they can.
Get the workplace involved in awareness movements promoting men’s health, such as Movember which challenges men to grow a moustache for the whole month of November in aid of men’s health issues.
Create incentives for getting involved like who has the best moustaches at the end of the month of Movember, a raffle, auction, or ticketed events where all the proceeds go to a dedicated men’s health charity.
