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Today is #InternationalMensDay Since the launch of our telephone befriending service Connect Fermanagh in April, we’ve been able to provide support to over 100 individuals across Fermanagh, with 33 per cent of those availing of the service being male.
We are chatting to men who are struggling with bereavement, men who are carers, men dealing with chronic pain or long-term health conditions, men who are homeless, men struggling with anxiety and men who are feeling lonely and missing their family and friends.
While many of the same difficulties are experienced by men and women, some difficulties and influences on mental health may be more relevant for men. Societal expectations about how men ‘should’ behave includes the expectation that men shouldn’t show their emotions.
It’s hard for men to ask for help but those who have, have been telling us how much they look forward to their chats and we have seen improvements in their mental health. It’s important we continue to recruit male volunteers as some men seeking calls prefer a man to chat to.
One gentleman receiving calls stated: “I hadn’t spoken to someone for so long and I was in a really bad way and you know, talking to you yesterday just lifted me. I got up this morning and I felt mighty, I’ll never forget what you done for me.”
#imd2020
#internationalmensday2020
#imd2020
#internationalmensday2020
