Men’s Well-Being
Men are nearly three times more likely to take their own life than women. In men under 35, suicide is the second most common cause of death in England and Wales”.
NHS UK
The Mosaic Community Trust raises health awareness in North Westminster and has recognized the growing importance of men’s emotional health and well-being. Through its workshops, The Mosaic Community Trust is offering men a safe place where they can be free to share and receive support and feedback from professionals about their mental well-being.
Following on from the success of the Emotional Well-Being Workshops and community based counseling services for women, The Mosaic Community Trust identified the need for a similar model to improve men’s emotional health and well-being. In October 2011, The Mosaic Community Trust ran their first workshop for men. The workshop sessions highlighted how important it was for men to have access to this service. Participants gained a better understanding of how the stress they were experiencing on a daily basis, such as work demands, family pressures, money problems, was leading to anger, fear, anxiety and loneliness and how this was affecting their well-being.
“I have wanted to say how I was feeling for a long time but I didn’t know where to go, I didn’t want to go to the doctors because I don’t think I need pills and I don’t want them to think I am crazy”.
G (42 years old)
“As a Man I feel the pressure to be strong, and I can’t tell my wife I don’t always feel strong”.
F (48 years old)
“For a long time I went around smiling and going to work but nobody knows how I feel inside”.
D (24 years old)
These are all statements said by different men during the workshop.
The Emotional Health and Well-Being Course for Men in January 2012, saw 17 men benefit from group therapeutic sessions, which discussed issues such as anger, unemployment, stress, financial difficulties and health issues. One participant noted:
“The Mosaic Community Trust continues to seek opportunities to address the issue of men’s mental well-being, providing ongoing workshops with mental well-being professionals. The success and further development of this service is a direct result of The Mosaic Community Trust’s approach of listening and acting on the feedback and needs of residents in North Westminster”.
The Mosaic Community Trust continues to seek opportunities to address the issue of men’s mental well-being, providing ongoing workshops with mental well-being professionals. The success and further development of this service is a direct result of The Mosaic Community Trust’s approach of listening and acting on the feedback and needs of residents in North Westminster.