Supporting men’s health
Image: Prostock-studio/stock.adobe.com
The end of Movember, the annual event of growing facial hair to raise awareness of men’s health issues during the month of November, brought about positive movement in the UK, with the government announcing its intention to launch a Men’s Health Strategy.
The announcement came at a jointly run Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Movember Men’s Health Summit on 28 November at Arsenal Football Stadium, following the publication of Movember’s Real Face of Men’s Health report earlier this year. The summit was hosted by the public health minister and the secretary of state for health, Wes Streeting, with the Movember team, including CEO, Michelle Terry, being joined by Movember ambassadors Ugo Monye, former rugby union player, and Kola Bokinni, star of Ted Lasso and Celebrity Race Across the World, as well as men’s health partners, MPs and government representatives.
The Men’s Health Strategy will consider how to prevent and tackle the biggest health problems affecting men of all ages, which could include cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer and testicular cancer, as well as mental health and suicide prevention.
The Real Face of Men’s Health report exposes the figure of 64 per cent of men waiting more than seven days before approaching a doctor with symptoms of illness, suggesting a lack of support from healthcare practitioners in the UK at this current time and hence the need for improvement.
Additionally, often, men not expressing how they’re physically feeling, means they’re not opening up about their mental wellbeing either, which can lead to other serious dangers. At the Summit on 28 November, Wes Streeting highlighted the fact that “suicide is the biggest killer for men under the age of 50.”
While I was watching my guilty pleasure reality TV programme, I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, recently, I was moved to hear South African dancer, Oti Mabuse, reveal that her brother took his own life at the age of sixteen. Mabuse stated she thought if he knew he could have opened up to someone about how he was feeling, his death could have been avoided. This followed a discussion led by musician Danny Jones, who spoke openly about his struggles with anxiety, including a panic attack he experienced while live on TV. Men’s mental health often continues to be a taboo topic so seeing conversations like this broadcast widely shows that great strides are being made in the entertainment industry.
Such strides are also integral to the metal packaging industry, which continues to be a heavily male-dominated space. While this is changing, it is still important that stigmas are challenged and broken down, and that men in these businesses are properly supported by their organisations.
Trivium Packaging has recently shared Movember contributions from men across its global team to inspire “meaningful change” in metal packaging communities.
In speaking about culture and stereotyping, Ibkun (KB) Kembi, Trivium talent manager in North America, mentioned that in the Black community (which was something also touched on by Mabuse above), speaking about mental health or seeking therapy was historically frowned upon. He said that men are taught to ‘be strong,’ but this can come at the cost of ignoring their well-being out of fear of being called “soft” or “crazy,” which creates a cycle of stigma.
Ajeeth Enjeti, general manager of Trivium’s food business unit, challenged the commonly held belief that mental health struggles happen to “others” and not oneself. This denial, he said, can lead to a slippery slope where unnoticed stress compounds over time, leaving one more vulnerable.
The message from Trivium’s discussion is that leaders, not just in metal packaging but in any business or community, carry the responsibility of promoting well-being. Enjeti emphasised the significance of leaders “treating people as human beings and not human doings,” which involves understanding team members’ context and experiences.
The Trivium contributions summarised involve the following tips:
Tips for everybody
- Check in with yourself. Address concerns early to avoid escalation.
- Stay active. Whether it’s a walk or a workout, movement clears the mind.
- Foster connections. Build a support system that encourages openness.
- Prioritise rest and mindfulness. Recharge and refocus to maintain balance.
Tips for leaders:
- Break the stigma: Discuss challenges openly and honestly.
- Be a role model : Take care of yourself and hold healthy boundaries. Your team will follow your example.
- Hold space: Stand firm for your team. Ensure they can come to you when they’re struggling.
- Remember the human: We never fully know what someone is going through outside their work obligations.
It’s well worth giving all of Trivium’s Movember contributions a read. Let us continue creating a culture where everyone feels emboldened and safe to share how they’re feeing.
I will conclude with this from Streeting: “When we improve men’s health, we know that the benefits can ripple through families, communities, societies and the economy. This will transform the lives of men, but also their wives, mothers, sisters, partners, mates, neighbours, children, teachers and doctors.”
- Alex Rivers (she/her), CanTech International editor
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