International Men’s Day

International Men’s Day (IMD) is an annual international event celebrated and marked on 19^th November every year, including across all four nations of the UK – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

The theme of this year’s International Men’s Day is ‘Men’s Health Champions,’ so take this opportunity to emphasise the importance of men’s mental well-being. Encourage open conversations about mental health, break the stigma around seeking help, and remind men that asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

In the UK, the team behind it have adopted three key themes that allow as many organisations and people as possible to take part. 

• Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys
• Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing
• Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity

Why is it important to recognise International Men’s Day?

One in eight men in England has suffered from a mental health issue. And three out of four suicides are by men.

These staggering statistics show that we need to take action and help men who are struggling. Men have been suffering in silence due to unrealistic stereotypes and unrealistic expectations. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

The themes that have been adopted for 2024 are also designed to help more organisations and people consider what action they can take by addressing some of the issues that affect men and boys such as:

• The high male suicide rate
• The challenges faced by boys and men at all stages of education and work including attainment, re-training, stress, redundancy and unemployment
• Men’s health (including male cancers), shorter life expectancy, body image and workplace deaths – plus the health impact of Covid-19
• The challenges faced by the most marginalised men and boys in society – for instance, homeless men, boys in care, school excluded boys and the high rate of male deaths in custody
• Male victims of violence and crime – for instance, bullying, sexual violence, gang violence, and those coerced into county lines and other criminal activity
• The challenges faced by men as parents, particularly new fathers and separated fathers
• Male victims and survivors of sexual abuse, rape, sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based crime, stalking. online image-abuse, sextortion and modern slavery
• Boys with no positive male role models in their lives
• The negative portrayal of men, boys and fathers

The Six Pillars of International Men’s Day

International Men’s Day is based on six objectives that should always be kept in mind when celebrating this holiday,

• To promote positive male role models.
• To celebrate men’s positive contributions to society.
• To focus on men’s health and well-being.
• To highlight discrimination against men.
• To improve gender relations and promote gender equality
• To create a safer, better world.

Am I opening the business up to a discrimination claim if we celebrate this day?

Although an increasing number of people are celebrating this annual event, there is still some hesitation (particularly from employers) to do so through fear of getting it wrong. This is due to the fact males are often seen as an advantaged group and so, it is deemed unnecessary to draw specific attention to inclusion for men. However, as you’ll see from the above, the latter part of that statement is untrue, so it is important they are recognised in your inclusion strategy. 

Mitigating risk: If your business chooses to celebrate International Men’s Day, then you should also celebrate the recognised dates for women and non-binary persons in the workplace. 

Five ideas to celebrate International Men’s Day

Something physical. 

Maybe you are already involved in a sporting, fitness, exercise group. Invite others to join your group on the day. Promote your event on your website.

Something cultural. 

Organise a group outing to something non-physical. A new restaurant, a band, a film. Open it up to others in your community, extend an invitation to meet new people. Promote your event on your website.

Something spiritual. 

Run a meditation or yoga session in the name of Men’s Health. If you don’t know how, find out who in the community could help lead a session, many will do this on a voluntary basis. If you can’t find anyone, you can always play a You Tube video or a podcast on the topic.

Hold a get together: morning tea, lunch, afternoon, dinner. 

Nothing more needs to be done, however think about toasting the men in the room and/or celebrating individuals. 

Invite a speaker to share their story. 

This could be at a community hall, a meet-up event, or anywhere that might be appropriate for a small (or large gathering). Again, this could be one person, or a line-up of two or three (or more). Promote your event on your website.

How to make a difference

Reach out

Loneliness can be a killer. It can intensify the effects of a mental health issue dramatically. Reaching out to a friend doesn’t have to take long. A quick text or phone call costs nothing. But it’s enough to show that you’re thinking of someone. This then opens the door to further conversation if you think they might be suffering. More often than not, it’s the little things that make a big difference.

Next time you’re reminded of a friend or family member, drop them a text and see what happens. The impact of these small actions is enough to change how the future unfolds.

Ask: how can I help?

Think there might be something up? Rather than giving advice, changing the subject or rushing off to your next task—ask how you can help instead. You’ll then be opening up the conversation with a question they can respond to. They might turn you down the first time. But if this person is ever struggling in the future, then they know there’s someone they can turn to. 

Listen

It’s one thing to hear what people say to you. But listening is a whole new realm entirely. Being present with the people close to you takes focus. Be attentive to the way people say things. Their body language, tone of voice and the emotions behind the words can tell a lot. It’s easy to get lost in storylines when someone is trying to tell us something. When you’re listening with all five senses, people feel seen, heard and noticed. And it can have a massive effect on what they share. 

Acceptance

Acceptance can be a great tool to cope with the struggles of a mental health issue. Let the person your talking to know that it’s okay not to be okay. Recognise their emotions and try to understand where they are coming from, this can help them to feel accepted. It can calm any anxieties and relieve extra pressure they have placed on themselves. 

Steps employers can take

• Regularly check in with your staff, particularly those who work remotely (whether that be from home or out in the field) regarding their well-being. 
• Ensure management are creating meaningful relationships and encouraging open two-way communication with their team. This is ultimately, going to help staff feel heard and supported.
• Train your managers on how to pick up and manage welfare concerns i.e. noticing changes in attendance, punctuality, appearance, behaviour etc.
• Notify your staff of any employee assistance programmes they can access.
• Notify your staff if you have a mental health first aider and how they can reach out for support.
• Signpost your staff to available help services for physical or mental health issues.

Let us embrace International Men’s Day 2024 as a time to raise awareness, foster open conversations, and empower men to take control of their physical and mental well-being.