A ‘COMPREHENSIVE’ raft of measures signed off to boost men’s mental health amid soaring suicide rates have been praised as a huge leap forward by a Barnsley MP.
A key part of the first-ever Men’s Health Strategy is dedicated to tackling the crisis in men’s mental health.
MP Marie Tidball, who represents Penistone and Stocksbridge, has welcomed the bold plan’s launch which she believes will reduce inequalities.
Suicide remains one such example as one of the leading causes of death for men under 50, and plans centre around a £3.6m government investment over the next three years in suicide prevention projects for middle-aged men.
Ring-fenced cash will also help improve health outcomes for males with respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
Marie said: “This strategy marks a turning point - it’s the first time we’re taking comprehensive, co-ordinated action to address the specific health challenges facing men and boys.
“It’s fantastic that a key part of the strategy is to support former mineworkers with respiratory conditions, across mining communities like ours in Dodworth.
“I’m particularly pleased to see this in the strategy, having raised it with government after many doorstep conversations with retired miners and their families in the area, as well as with the National Union of Mineworkers and the Coalfield Regeneration Trust.
“I also want to say a huge thank you to the work of our local Men in Sheds groups across Penistone and Stocksbridge, who work so hard to support men’s mental health and wellbeing across our communities all year round.”
Figures show 87 deaths from suicide were reported in Barnsley over the 2022/24 period and it’s a statistic which ministers behind the project are keen to drive down.
Dozens of NHS 111 mental health crisis calls are being made every day in the town - with 2,329 reach-outs from people needing help in August alone.
Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, added: “For too long men’s health has been overlooked - there has been a reluctance to accept that men suffer specific inequalities and hardships.
“The fact is that life can be really difficult for men in today’s society.
“Men are dying nearly four years earlier than women and suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for men under 50.
“We know men are less likely to come forward for healthcare.
“We’re meeting men where they are and giving them the support they need to live longer, healthier lives.”
Barnsley North MP Dan Jarvis urged people to speak out if they are struggling.
“As a society we’ve made a lot of progress in how we talk about our mental health but we still have more work to do,” he said.
“Many who suffer with their mental health often feel unable to speak out and keep their feelings bottled up - especially men.
“From a young age, many men are still taught to be ashamed of showing weakness.
“Medical professionals have been calling out this old-fashioned attitude for being harmful to mental health for years now.
“Yet the idea that ‘real men’ - whatever that phrase means - should not show weakness still persists.
“This could partly explain why the suicide rate is so much higher among men than women: it is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50, and men are three times more likely to take their own lives than women.
“Getting men talking is key to breaking the stigma around mental health - listening is powerful and we need to keep conversations going.”
