Teesside men urged to talk about their mental health and get support
It's International Men's Day today
We are being reminded that there is mental health support for men who are worried about speaking out across Teesside.
It is International Men's Day today and the theme is 'zero male suicide.'
On its website, it said: "Men face a series of health challenges that need to be address in order to have our communities function to their fullest potential."
Current research tells us that:
- men have a suicide rate 3 times higher than women
- 1 in 3 men have been the victims of domestic violence
- men on average die 4-5 years before women
- men are nearly twice as likely to suffer from lung cancer than women
- men are nearly twice as likely to suffer from heart disease than women
Today is also a day to celebrate the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities as role models.
Khurram Hussain, Facilitator at Andy's Man Club in Middlesbrough, said: "Ultimately despite the effects we've made over the past years, there's still a stigma attached to men in particular talking about their mental health, not just men but women as well, and by creating a safe environment for people to talk about themselves and the difficulties they face, it helps.
"People aren't alone. It's not something that they're dealing with on their own but it also allows them to voice their concerns, and sometimes get the opinions of complete strangers who may have shared similiar experiences and that can have a profound impact on people.
"One of the barriers for men to seek that support is actually their own mindset and their own pride at times. It's accepting that 1. It's not weak to go out and seek help and 2. It's absolutely normal to do so. There isn't something catastrophically wrong with a person who wishes to go out and seek support.
"Sometimes just engaging with our neighbours, inviting them around for a cup of coffee or tea and a biscuit and watch the match, whatever it may be, from a message on Facebook saying 'you alright mate? How are you getting on?' It can be the difference between someone having a really awful day to actually someone's bothered about me."
Andy's Man Club meets every Monday at 7pm except on Bank Holidays.
Here is the list of where to find them across Teesside:
- Middlesbrough - Old Fire Station, Town Hall, Albert Rd, Middlesbrough TS1 2QJ.
- Hartlepool - Hartlepool Utd FC, Victoria Park, Clarence Road, Hartlepool TS24 8BZ.
- Stockton-on-Tees - Redhill Family Hub, Redhill Road, Roseworth, Stockton-on-Tees TS19 9BX.
You can find out more on the Andy's Man Club website.