International Men's Day
On November 19, International Men’s Day celebrates worldwide the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities. It highlights positive role models and raises awareness of men’s well-being.
The theme for 2023 is “Zero Male Suicide” - together we can stop male suicide.
In the UK, the team have adopted three key themes that allow as many organisations and people 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
IMD is a global grassroots movement that invites every man, woman, girl and boy in the world to come together and celebrate men and boys in all their diversity. It gives everyone in the UK who wants to celebrate and mark International Men’s Day the opportunity to help work towards IMD UK’s shared themes and the six international key pillars which are applied equally to men and boys irrespective of their age, ability, social background, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, religious belief and relationship status.
Events at the University
'Perceptions of Masculinity and Mental Health' with Lewis Wedlock
Lewis discussed the perceptions of masculinity and what this means with respect to men recognising the need for help, asking for help and where to seek help, particularly in relation to mental health.
The recording is available on the staff and PGR Inclusion Matters Sharepoint.
You can also find out more about Lewis and his work by visiting the following websites:
Life Sciences Movember Competition (now closed)
Please note that the Life Sciences Movember Competition has now closed.
Moustache selfie competition: £1 to enter (or what you can afford).
Raising for Talk Club and Men's Health Forum.
Kick off: Moustache Day (27 Nov) where staff/students are encouraged to sport a moustache for the day.
Selfie station in Biomedical Sciences Source Cafe on 27 Nov, or take a selfie wherever!
Send in selfies until 30 Nov to ppn-exec@bristol.ac.uk.
Can't grow one? Draw, stick, knit, crochet, or use a moustache prop.
Best student/staff selfies win a £10 source voucher; 2 runners up get a £5 source voucher.
You can donate on their JustGiving page.
Other Events
International Men's Day UK Events
Find out about events organised across the UK for International Men's Day
Talk Club
Talk Club is a talking and listening club for men, offering talking groups, sports groups and therapy to help keep you mentally fit.
There are many Talk Clubs that happen around Bristol, and one of these is held at the University of Bristol 's Beacon House every two weeks on Saturdays 2-4pm
Andy's Man Club
ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online.
There are a couple of ANDYSMANCLUB groups that take place in Bristol.
Find out more about Prostate Matters
Prostate Matters took place during the week of 20 June 2022 to increase men's awareness of prostate cancer, the benefits of early detection and to get men talking about their health more widely. The campaign was led by the University's Occupational Health with support from Prostate Cancer UK.
You may also be interested in Movember
Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.
You can join the University of Bristol challenge page, as well as viewing last year's challenge, and find out more about the events they are running.
Resources and Training
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ZSA Suicide Awareness Training
The ZSA Suicide Awareness Training is a short online course which aims to give you the skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide. It also works toward breaking the stigma around suicide, encouraging people to have open conversations about their mental health. This course can be found on the Develop platform.
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Mental Health Awareness at Work
The focus in this Develop training session is on knowing more about common mental health issues, challenging stigma, tips on self-care and supporting others, and accessing support.
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Staff Counselling Sessions
Talk to someone neutral and independent about personal or work-related problems, including: mental and physical health conditions, anxiety, depression, assertiveness, building resilience, dealing with conflict and acceptable workplace behaviour, loss and transition, organisational change, working or personal relationships, personal and professional development, stress management, critical incident and post-traumatic stress processing.
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Staff Counselling Wellbeing Events
The University's Staff Counselling service runs a number of sessions to support mental health and wellbeing. Current events include Breathing Space, Mindfulness Informed Anxiety Reduction Course, Parting Words, Time2Talk (a space for Student/Faculty Education Administrators), and Senior Tutor Group.
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Employee Assistance Programme
The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a free 24/7 counselling and information service provided by Care first for University of Bristol staff.
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Further Wellbeing Support
See the University's dedicated webpage of resources for how you can further support your mental health and wellbeing.