International Men’s Day (19th November) – Supporting Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month at The Forward Trust
International Men’s Day was established in 1999 by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh from Trinidad and Tobago, who says: “the concept and themes of International Men’s Day are designed to give hope to the depressed, faith to the lonely, comfort to the broken-hearted, transcend barriers, eliminate stereotypes and create a more caring humanity”.
There are 6 main pillars of International Men’s Day:
- To promote positive male role models
- To celebrate men’s positive contributions to society.
- To focus on men’s health and wellbeing.
- To highlight discrimination against men.
- To improve gender relations and promote gender equality.
- To create a safer, better world.
Here at Forward, we believe that the journey to recovery should be possible for everyone, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, class, age, or background.
However, we know that society’s expectations and traditional gender roles contribute to men being less inclined to talk about or seek help for their mental health challenges. 75% of deaths registered as suicide in England and Wales in 2019 were among men, according to a report from MIND UK.
Sadly, mental health issues that go untreated can increase the risk of addiction. Men experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges may turn to substances for temporary relief, which often leads to worsening problems over time.
As we head towards Addiction Awareness Week 2024, it’s more important than ever to get men talking to show that Addiction Affects Everyone BUT Recovery Is Possible.
At The Forward Trust, we support people with mild-to-moderate mental health needs, such as anxiety and depression, in prisons. Our prison services include IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) and a range of health and wellbeing interventions.
We also provide a Reach Out online chat service, which is open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, to everyone aged 16 and over. Reach Out provides free, confidential advice on a range of issues, including drug or alcohol worries and mental health – whether they affect you directly or a friend or relative.
For mental health crises, including strong and persistent feelings that you want to end your life, please seek immediate help from the emergency services on 999. You can also call the Samaritans on 116 123.