Men's Health Week Experiences

01/07/14 . Blog

Men's Health Week 2014

Men's Health Week puts the focus on male health across the country, with local events at its heart.

We asked a few of the organisations which took part to tell us about their experiences of the week, and what they got up to. Here's what some of them said:

Men's Health Week saw hundreds of events across the country, and generated widespread media coverage.

Greenwich

Royal Borough of Greenwich

The Greenwich Men’s Health 5 a side football tournament organised with Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) was our best yet! Holding it during the World Cup, getting teams to play as competing countries and for a replica trophy added a festival feel to the tournament. Family and friends lined the touchline to give support and kids had the opportunity to take part in some multi-sport sessions with a CACT Community coach. The final was a hard fought contest between Columbia and Argentina with Columbia winning 2-0. We also raised £400 for Prostate Cancer UK. The feedback from participants was so positive we are looking to work with CACT to secure funding for a weekly mini 5 a side tournament aimed at workplace teams, dads groups and anyone who fancies putting a team together.

The Valley Central Men’s Social Group has been meeting at Charlton’s Valley stadium on a Tuesday night since January. To celebrate Men’s Health Week the group had men only cookery session with a chef. The group learnt how to cook a healthy curry and the chef gave them some top tips to make their favourite meals with less fat, salt and sugar. It was a great opportunity for the guys to discuss healthy eating and share a meal together. More sessions on knife skills, healthy shopping on a budget and healthy lunchboxes are planned for later in the year.

South Devon

Torbay & Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust / South Devon Healthcare Foundation Trust (In Partnership)

Following general feedback from our male workforce, it was clear they wanted something focussed on them and what they could relate to. A lot of work went into trying to confirm speakers who could deliver information relating to Men’s’ Health that would entice and engage with our male workforce. Although the week and our day was aimed at Men’s Health it was not exclusive to men. Women were encouraged to come as well, because they have male relatives, colleagues and friends who would benefit from the day. However, on the day over 60% of the audience were male and ages varying from early twenties to almost retirement age and the room was buzzing.

The presentations were interesting, thought provoking and enabled audience participation, topics from urology/colorectal through to Mindful employer were included. As part of the overall day there were stands i.e. Healthy lifestyles, healthy eating, physical activity, smoking, drinking, substance misuse all targeted at the male population. Following a feedback survey it was evident that the event was well received and suggestions have been put forward for such an event to be run again in the autumn in line with Movember as well as an interest to run a similar event in Women’s’ Health Week in March 2015.

Barnet

Barnet and Southgate College

Barnet and Southgate Men’s Health week ( the first we have promoted ) went well. Tuckers Testicle Talk was a success over 20 of our sports students from football attended the talk and the College have artificial simulated pair of testicles for the boys to use to demonstrate how they can they test and find the lumps. The College and sports department hope to embed the Men’s Health week within their annual calendar

Manchester

Creative Wellbeing Service from Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust (MMHSCT)

The Creative Wellbeing Service from Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust (MMHSCT) worked with Manchester Art Gallery and participants from both mental health services and community groups. Manchester Art Gallery was keen to deliver an event marking Men's Health Week 2014 by working in partnership with Start in Manchester and Studio One. Art and creativity can be used as powerful tools to raise awareness around men's mental health, reduce stigma and social isolation as well as promoting positive and long lasting wellbeing. The Creative Wellbeing Service delivers workshops that are thought provoking, engaging and really good fun!

Working with the general public is an important confidence building exercise for service users, and an effective way of reducing stigma around mental health issues. Thomas, a Studio One service user volunteer said, “I really enjoyed meeting and talking with the people in the workshop, and especially helping them out. Working from the paintings in the gallery was very interesting, especially because I had not been to the gallery before. At the end of the workshop I felt good about myself. I would definitely do it again

Many thanks to the participants from: Start; Studio One; Out in the City and the Creative Living Centre Prestwich. Here’s what they said about the workshop:

“Working as part of a group really helped to reduce my anxiety levels. When I do things on my own I can get too critical about what I’m doing, but working with other people diffuses this.”

“I really enjoyed my visit today, it helped with my anxiety. It was a very calming place to be and I loved the hands on practical task.”

“An absolutely wonderful visit and workshop, very helpful and inspirational staff.”

“Amazing and totally rewarding project. Loved it. 10/10.”

“I found this fascinating. A great opportunity to take some unusual photographs.”

Halton

Halton Borough Council

I had some mini men’s health manuals left over from a previous year so we put a little blurb about men’s health week on our staff intranet, encouraged men to check out your website. I offered a free men’s health manual to first 15 to contact me. I supplied 17 mini manuals to requests in all.

The Men’s Health Forum need your support

It’s tough for men to ask for help but if you don’t ask when you need it, things generally only get worse. So we’re asking.

In the UK, one man in five dies before the age of 65. If we had health policies and services that better reflected the needs of the whole population, it might not be like that. But it is. Policies and services and indeed men have been like this for a long time and they don’t change overnight just because we want them to.

It’s true that the UK’s men don’t have it bad compared to some other groups. We’re not asking you to ‘feel sorry’ for men or put them first. We’re talking here about something more complicated, something that falls outside the traditional charity fund-raising model of ‘doing something for those less fortunate than ourselves’. That model raises money but it seldom changes much. We’re talking about changing the way we look at the world. There is nothing inevitable about premature male death. Services accessible to all, a population better informed. These would benefit everyone - rich and poor, young and old, male and female - and that’s what we’re campaigning for.

We’re not asking you to look at images of pity, we’re just asking you to look around at the society you live in, at the men you know and at the families with sons, fathers and grandads missing.

Here’s our fund-raising page - please chip in if you can.