International Men’s Day 2022 – How we’re recognising it
Today is International Men’s Day.
The day looks to highlight some of the issues affecting men and boys in the UK and around the world.
This includes:
- The high rate of male suicide (suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK)
- Male victims and survivors of domestic abuse and violence (1 in 6 to 7 men experience a form of domestic abuse in their lifetime)
- Highlighting positive male role models
One of the areas the day also looks to shine the spotlight on is sectors and workplaces where men can be under-represented.
At Richmond Fellowship, less than 25% of those in our workforce are men. As one of the leading mental health charities in England we’re aware of how important it is to have a diverse workforce across our organisation and we must do more to ensure we reflect society as a whole.
A career in social care or the charity sector is something men can aspire to. Across today on our social media, we’ll be sharing stories from two men, Karl and John who used Richmond Fellowship services and now work in frontline roles to inspire others on their recovery journeys.
Robert Templeton, Director of Operations at Richmond Fellowship previously worked as a social worker himself. Robert says:
“I started my career as a social worker. It is one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve done. The fact you’re able to support some of the most vulnerable in society at the most challenging points in their lives is something that always stays with me. I’d urge any man who thinks a career in the mental health sector isn’t for them to read our inspiring staff blogs from today – as you too, can really make a difference.
We are aware of the alarming rate of men taking their own lives. Suicide in men remains the biggest killer under the age of 45. This is something that must be tackled as priority in society, and we must make sure mental health services are addressing this issue head on.
As an organisation, we are also aware of the impact domestic abuse has on male survivors and we have men with lived experience of this within our staff teams and the people we support. There are dedicated charities and partners we signpost to and work with, to ensure those men most at risk receive the tailored support they need.
International Men’s Day is a great platform for us to talk about these important issues”.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @rfmentalhealth.
Inspired to work for us? Check out our latest vacancies on our online jobs portal today.
If you’re a man struggling with your mental health or experiencing domestic abuse, please see our need urgent help page to signpost you to the correct services.
Richmond Fellowship is a national mental health charity and we welcome donations and fundraising to help support our frontline services. Click here to fundraise or donate to us today!
