Improving Men’s Health

27th September 2024

Women are often at ease with discussing their health issues, but men are notoriously reluctant to talk about such topics and to seek help when they need it.

This can mean that they have a higher rate of untreated conditions, including serious mental health problems which, tragically, can lead to suicide.

Essex Community Foundation (ECF) supports several local organisations which provide safe spaces where men can meet, share and learn skills and feel comfortable talking about their issues and concerns.

Over 50s Black Men’s Forum:

The Over 50s Black Men’s Forum (O5BM) was formed in 2018 as a non-profit community organisation to provide a support network for black men aged 50 plus who can be confronted by the double challenges of ethnic inequality and ageism.

Originally created by the black African community, the organisation has strong support and is currently run entirely by volunteers, with the aim of the supporting black men aged over 50 with issues including health, education, wellbeing, isolation, mental health as well as economic and employment matters.

Funding from ECF is helping the organisation with their online activities, social meetings, their regular forum meeting, small group walks and having guest speakers from various organisations to give helpful information and guidance on various topics.

Chidi Umeano, the Partnership and Engagement manager for the organisation, said: “We created our online platform to help give the support and services needed to reduce health, economic and social inequalities and respond to all the issues and concerns of the over 50s black male community.  The platform is free to join and currently has a membership of 300 men.”

O5BM is the only organisation delivering holistic health service through provision of primary and secondary preventative education and intervention on all medical areas, as well as provision of five weekly mental health workshops and 160 Hours of physical activities per month across four locations nationwide, with two of the locations in Essex.

Essex Shed Network:

Men’s Sheds have made a huge difference across the country, providing places where men can get together, socialise, develop and use their skills and link with their local communities.

The Essex Shed Network has played an important role in helping such organisations become established in the county.

A not-for-profit partnership between Maldon & District CVS and CVS Uttlesford, and the Essex Shed Network provides support to anyone in Essex who wants to set up a Men’s Shed and also helps existing Sheds to ensure their sustainability.

Sarah Troop, director for Essex Shed Network said: “We are able to share our knowledge and expertise which has been developed through setting up several Sheds from an initial community idea. We provide help with funding applications, governance, health and safety, drawing up a code of conduct and more. We arrange training as well as regular events which bring Shedders from across the county together, to share their knowledge and experiences with each other, which ultimately strengthens the Network.”

Nationally and locally the shed network has gone from strength to strength, bringing men’s health to the fore and tackling mental and physical issues and social isolation. It is now a recognised way of helping men re-engage in the community, using skills such as carpentry, metalwork and a whole host of other activities to aid wellbeing, giving many men a much-needed sense of purpose and achievement.

Turning Corners:

The Turning Corners football group has been running since 2019, with weekly sessions at Lakeside Sports Ground, where team members can open up about their struggles.

It was set up after its founder, Chris Shields, attended a group in Lancashire to support recovery from addiction and mental health. He decided he wanted to give back and help others in Essex facing similar challenges.

The success of the group has been recognised in several ways, with Chris being given a “One in a Million Award” from Active Essex. He was also nominated for a Civic Award and was a finalist for the “Stronger Together Community award”.

Chris Shields, founder and leader of the group, said: “The club is for people of all abilities, aged over 18 and we welcome people who have experienced or are experiencing substance misuse, poor mental health or social exclusion. Football is great way of tackling challenges such as substance misuse and alcohol-related problems.

“The men come from diverse backgrounds, black and ethnic minorities, refugees and asylum seekers. Weekly football matches are arranged on Fridays for 90 minutes where men take part in physical activities that improve mental health.

“Our aim is to reach out to men who would not necessarily engage with local mental health services and stand the risk of slipping through the net. We have 70 members in a WhatsApp group and one of the unique features of the football programme involves carefully selecting different men into groups. The group selection helps to create team spirit and a peer-to-peer support system that encourages and supports the members.”

BCCS:

Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society (known as BCCS) recognised that more has to be done to help boys with their health and have expanded their work to meet this need.

Bernadette Fisher, Director of BCCS, said: “We have been operating for 40 years, with our key aim being to ensure the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people who access our service.  We aim to intervene and offer support, therapy, guidance or consultation as soon as issues are identified, so that we can ensure sustainable outcomes for a child or young person.

Our work has evolved into a holistic provision. “Whilst our biggest undertaking is the one-to-one work we do in schools with children, we also support staff and parents/carers.  Our schools-based provision is only a part of our work – we provide therapeutic support to children, young people and families in our dedicated counselling rooms at our head office.

“We are proud and privileged to provide a caring, professional service to children irrespective of their background or religion and now work in a wide variety of schools – Catholic and non-Catholic – across Essex and East London.

“Our statistics highlighted that approximately 75 per cent of our caseload is girls and this continues to concern us. Working with schools to offer generic, nonintrusive, targeted support will mean that boys will have a positive experience of talking things through.

“We want to encourage boys to discuss the way language influences them.  Phrases such as “man up” unconsciously shape what they feel is acceptable behaviour.  We also look at the media’s approach to these topics, including public figures being “cancelled” for their statements or behaviour and the difficulty of talking about these topics without people feeling personally attacked.

“Conversations about male mental health are encouraged, including the concerning statistics around male suicide and the disparity between the numbers of men who are diagnosed with a mental health disorder and those feel able to accept interventions offered.  Engaging with boys will continue to be our focus for the next academic year, the work having already begun in collaboration with our schools.

“It is really encouraging for boys to learn about organisations such as men’s groups and sports teams designed specifically to offer spaces in which men can feel supported to talk about their difficulties.”

Facts:

• Suicide is the single largest cause of death for men under the age of 50 in the UK.
• More than 90 per cent of people who die by suicide struggle with their mental health and/or addiction.