This August, Your Local Link is proud to present the burgeoning men’s social wellbeing group Menfulness as our Local Charity of the Month!
First established in 2022 and run by a group of five friends from York, Menfulness is dedicated to providing a proactive and valuable support network for men, especially during the times in their lives when they need a helping hand the most.
The Menfulness team is committed to rejecting the old-school notion of ‘manning up’, which has in part led to the under-representation of men in talking therapy settings (men account for only 36% of NHS talking therapies referrals), the tragic over-representation of men in UK suicide rates (three-quarters of suicides are committed by men), and the fact that males are three-times more likely than women to become dependent on drugs and alcohol. Best embodied by the increasingly prevalent hashtag #DontManUpSpeakUp, Menfulness aims to prevent crises before they happen and normalise healthy, supportive talk amongst males. Employing a hearty mix of physical activity, sports, weekly and monthly get-togethers, and good old-fashioned chit-chat, this crucial local charity is working towards breaking down the cultural and communicative barriers that often lead to blokes bottling up their emotions and failing to seek help during the toughest times.
When Your Local Link spoke with the team, they emphasised the importance of spotting signs of stress and worry in others, checking in with mates to provide much-needed support, and how even the smallest of interventions can save lives. Because Menfulness are well aware of how daunting and unfamiliar opening up can be for many fellas, all groups and events are informal, inter-generational, relaxed and friendly; monthly events include Walk and Talk, the Menfulness York Knights Talking Group, Board Game Night, and a Coffee Afternoon; friendly tennis, running, and football games are currently running three nights a week, with other offerings related to boxing, allotment keeping, hair-dressing, running, and beyond.
Since its foundation, Menfulness has made rapid and meaningful impact towards promoting its cause, picking up multiple national awards along the way; for instance, its profound short film ‘One More Day’ was honoured with a Gold Judges’ Award at the Smiley Charity Film Awards 2024!
If you’re keen on getting involved or finding further details about any upcoming Menfulness events, visit meetup.com/menfulness today. For the full Menfulness Menu of events and offerings, head over to menfulness.org/support/menu/. If you’re in the midst of an immediate crisis, visit www.valeofyorkccg.nhs.uk/your-health-and-local-services/mental-health/crisis-support/ for assistance.
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