Men’s Health Week Mental Health Campaign Launched

A report by Derek Maylor, NW BT Unions Health & Safety Co-ord chairperson

The Men’s Health Forum week launch event was held in Southwalk Cathedral, such an interesting & historic venue was suited to an organisation of various interested parties in trying to address the historic reluctance of men to access health services that are around them. Non-Government Organisations, churches, health services providers and one union all looking to support the 2013 campaign.

Dr John Chisholme, the new Chair of  the MHF, opened the event saying that although MHF ha d been hold targeted weeks since 2002 this was the first return to a subject, they recognised the current rise in men’s mental health problems. One in ten men will seek treatment for mental health during their lives whilst one in four women will.

Boys and men are falling further behind in education and many men remove a worrying issue by drink, drugs or suicide. The doctor concluded saying that we need to design services that encourage male participation.

Gavin Atkins from MIND talked about their involvement in men’s mental health. MIND is organised around 154 local groups throughout the UK, all with local knowledge and aware of local needs. MIND likes to promote physical activities and gave examples such as the restoration of a community centre and gardening projects in the community.

An important aspect of these projects was that men were in a group and this has a huge effect on mental health, simply participation with other people has huge benefits. There are currently five one year pilot schemes which are working with groups that don't have mental health problems at the moment but fall into all the characteristics that they are very likely to. This preventative work not only helps the individuals concerned but also the health service providers and the local communities. 

Martin Tod, the new MHF Chief Executive spoke about a year of change for the MHF, some heard working people had moved on leaving a great legacy behind them. MHF have been reviewing all the best practices from anywhere around the world, looking at long term challenges. As ever the MHF is open to innovative projects but many things happen in combination and we need to be looking at health bearing that in mind. We have to change the NHS agenda and move men’s health further into the centre, the challenges remain huge.

Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services