Mens Day
“May this day remind you of your worth and the positive impact you have on others”
International Men's Day is a global awareness day every 19th November to talk about issues facing men, including specific mental & physical health issues, risk of suicide, abuse and violence. The objectives of celebrating an International Men's Day are set out in the ‘Six Pillars of International Men's Day as follows:
- To promote positive male role models; not just movie stars and sports men but every day, working-class men who are living decent, honest lives.
- To celebrate men's positive contributions to society, community, family, marriage, childcare, and the environment.
- To focus on men's health and wellbeing: social, emotional, physical, and spiritual.
- To highlight discrimination against men in areas of social services, social attitudes and expectations, and law.
- To improve gender relations and promote gender equality.
- To create a safer, better world, where people can be safe and grow to reach their full potential
These issues affect men in different areas of Scotland differently, they affect men differentially at different stages in their life and under various circumstances. The issues are diverse, as our communities of men are, there is no one size fits all.
Our shed encourages people from all walks of life to come together to meet, make, grow & share, supporting projects in their local communities. Various research publications have demonstrated the benefits of this, particularly for men, by improving wellbeing, reducing loneliness and combatting social isolation. All of these are linked to higher risks of poor health and outcomes. When we can make mental health conversations more of an everyday thing, it takes away negative stigmas and makes seeking help something praiseworthy.
The Inverclyde Shed will be open from 10am on the 19th for anyone to drop in and find out more about what we do.
Looking out for one another
Early intervention is crucial in managing mental health, and open communication builds bridges to the resources and support available. We recently held a successful Greater Glasgow & Clyde Scottish Mens Shed Association Network meeting today at the shed with representatives from Houston, Barrhead, Clydebank. The Dalry & The Three Towns Mens Sheds were also there and presented a new Suicide Prevention Toolkit developed through a collaboration with other third sector organisations in North Ayrshire.
The toolkit covers things to look out for, how to start a conversation with someone you are concerned about, listening, how and when to seek help from others if you think someone is in need and some common myth busters around this important issue. It's an easy read and we'd encourage all members to take a few minutes to download this, read it and raise their own awareness, it might just help someone.
We’d also like to thank our neighbour’s Greenock Baptist Church for offering our members free Defibrillator Training, the nearest defibrillator unit to the shed is located on the Carnock Street wall of the adjacent church. Looking out for each other in this way will save lives.
Positive Role Models
International Men's Day 2024’s theme is also about “Positive male role models,” it is a chance to also celebrate men's lives, achievements and contributions, for their contributions to families & community,
For The Inverclyde Shed, this is at the heart of our “meet, make, grow & share” ethos, we passionately believe that being part of giving back, being part of a community, engaging fully with that community and feeling welcome is at the heart of better men’s health.
It builds confidence, dignity, respect and worth. Allowing men to share with one another and with their wider community.
We hope too that by demonstrating this type of kindness to one another and to our communities, perhaps we can promote positive male role models from every day, working-class men who are living decent, honest lives.