- Conference
- 2022 National Disabled Members' Conference
- Date
- 7 July 2022
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 50 in the UK. In 2020, 75% of those who took their own lives were male. 4,880 men and boys died by suicide, that equates to 12 deaths every day of the year.
While people of all genders can experience mental health problems stigma and gender stereotypes mean men’s mental health issues are often go unnoticed.
Societal norms can make it harder for men and boys to admit when they’re struggling to cope. They see mental health issues as a sign of weakness, they don’t talk about their problems with their family or friends, and they don’t seek professional help.
According to the Mental Health Foundation men who don’t talk about their emotions are less likely to recognise symptoms of mental health issues in themselves. Men will throw themselves into work, turn alcohol or drugs, and even go missing rather than ask for help with their mental health.
Surprisingly the pandemic didn’t have as adverse an impact on mental health as was expected and suicide and self-harm rates amongst men falling slightly. Research suggests this may be because resilience is a common human response during times of adversity. Unfortunately rates have already returned to pre-pandemic levels.
For too long male mental health has been ignored and not talked about. Symptoms such as irritability, loss of control, risk-taking and sudden bouts of anger are written off as a mid-life crisis when they’re actually a cry for help.
Our mental health can impact on our ability to function and can be classed as a disability, but we know that many of our members, particularly our male members, still struggle to get the help and support they need.
We recognise that for shop stewards and reps asking a member about their mental wellbeing can be hard. And if the question is asked, more often than not, our male members will say they’re fine or brush the question aside rather than ask for help.
Conference, we can’t force men to get help but we can let them know that support is available and that talking about mental health is a sign of strength not weakness.
Conference instructs National Disabled Members Committee to work with the NEC and Service Group Executives to:
1)Develop and deliver a campaign to raise awareness of male mental health issues
2)Use International Men’s Day on 19 November to promote positive action related to men’s mental wellbeing
3)Provide details of organisations that can help men struggling with mental health issue on the UNISON website
4)Consider whether the safe place referred to in motion 121 which was passed at National Delegate Conference could be extended to include a safe space where men can discuss and share their experiences of mental health