With some publicity focusing on human rights violations during the World Cup, here is a refreshingly different angled shot of mental health support in a thought provoking videocast. This Hibernian FC fan based support podcast provides insight as to how a football network can address men’s (and boys) experience of abusive relationships. There is also an example of Sport addressing high suicide rates in young men with Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club providing sports coaching alongside resilience training that is also opened to other groups in their local community such as older people and women. Strongmen is a UK men’s bereavement and mental health support charity (also covering Scotland) that undertakes telephone Peer Support and multiple outdoor activities to build resilience and find a path to recovery through its peer network. These services recognise that inclusive approaches work when engaging with men as often mainstream provision falls into stereotyping that men need to be lead in order to receive support from services that often exclude them unconsciously or consciously.
There are many other innovative approaches to mens work such as The Mens Shed Association which was originally set up in Australia to combat isolation and loneliness. There is an active Scottish Network providing spaces for men to socialise whilst carrying out familiar and/or gaining new skills in a friendly environment. Andys Man Club is a men’s support network offering facilitated peer support across the UK including Scotland, providing safe space to socialise and talk about issues affecting its members. Brothers in Arms is the Scottish online interactive support and information site for men and boys providing tips, online podcasts, downloads, apps and a chatbot to support mental health and wellbeing. MANi the Mens Alliance Northern Ireland online service for male victims of domestic abuse offers peer support for Scottish men through a Facebook group as part of their outreach activities.
