‘Mental health problems are indiscriminate’ urges Havering mental health charity

A campaign to encourage discussion of men’s mental health has launched, ahead of International Men’s Day on November 19. Credit: PA/Stefan Rousseau PA/Press Association Images

A campaign to encourage discussion of men’s mental health has launched, ahead of International Men’s Day on November 19.

Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in.

National charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is using the #BiggerIssues campaign to call on MPs to highlight the issue of male suicide in Parliament.

In 2014, there were 4,623 male suicides in the UK, accounting for 76 per cent of all suicides.

This makes male suicide the single biggest killer of men aged under 45 in the UK.

In the borough, the Havering BME forum is hosting the first event to specifically promote men’s health on International Men’s Day.

The event includes stalls on physical and mental health, which secretary to the chairman Sarah Bimpong said were equally important.

She said: “According to research, as much as 50pc of people of black, ethnic minority and immigrants with mental illness have neither been diagnosed nor are receiving treatment.

“The reasons given are mainly lack of access and cultural competence among healthcare officials.”

Ciaran White, the events co-ordinator at Havering Mind, said men should feel encouraged to access help.

He said: “There does tend to be a reluctance in men to seek help for mental health related issues.

“Perhaps this is down to the society we live in, where men may see seeking help for a mental health problem as ‘unmanly’ and it may make them feel embarrassed and ashamed in front of their peers.

“We would encourage them to recognise that mental health problems are indiscriminate, regardless of gender, age, social class or background.”

In 2014, 41pc of people who accessed services at mental health charity Havering Mind were men, which is unchanged from previous years.

The men’s health event will run between 4pm and 7pm on Thursday at the YMCA, Rush Green Road, Romford, RM7 0PM.

For more information call 01708 433393.