Here's when International Men's Day 2023 is and why it is celebrated
This year's International Men's Day is here and organisers have vowed to tackle some very important issues head-on.
November 19 is traditionally dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness of the contribution men and boys make to their communities, the event is starting to grow in popularity. International Men’s Day has in fact been around since 1999, but in the main it has struggled to embed its way into the consciousness in the same way as International Women’s Day does every year.
But things are changing with some vital subjects front and centre. Organisers say it has three core themes to to help maximise participation. That is making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys, raising awareness and or funds for charities supporting their wellbeing and promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity.
This year's theme is a big one - ‘zero male suicide’ (Getty Images)It has has some big backing from Downing Street over the years, with former Prime Minister saying: “For International Men’s Day, let us recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution that men and boys make to our society – and make sure that they are not alone to suffer in silence."
Theresa May also believed the event should be supported, saying: “I recognise the important issues this event seeks to highlight including men’s health, male suicide rates and the underperformance of boys in schools, these are serious issues that must be addressed in a considered way.”
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Ahead of International Men’s Day this year, the Public Health Agency is encouraging men with feelings of anxiety or distress to start the conversation about their thoughts and feelings. Fiona Teague, Regional Lead for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing at the PHA said: “Suicide is preventable, it is not inevitable, people of all ages and walks of life can experience suicidal thoughts.
"It is so important that if men are struggling with their feelings that they can talk to someone. It is important to know that help and support is available if those thoughts and feelings surface. It can be a view of some that men talking about their feelings can be a sign of weakness but it is in fact a sign of strength to talk to others about feelings of depression, anxiety and stress, and through talking, things can get better.
"The most important step men can take is to reach out for advice, whether that’s to family, a friend, their GP or a mental health professional. Our mental health is as important as our physical health – if we feel physical discomfort we would not hesitate in addressing it and it is just as important to look after your mental health in the same way. There is always hope that things can improve and talking about your mental health is the first step to feeling better.”
International Men’s Day was founded Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, a history lecturer at University of the West Indies in Trinidad Tabago. Calls for the dedicated day have been going on since at least the 1960’s when it was reported in the New York Times in 1969 that “Many men have been agitating privately to make February 23 International Men’s Day, the equivalent of March 8, which is International Women’s day“. This Day for women has been around since 1909.
The issues it helps address
- The high male suicide rate
- The challenges faced by boys and men at all stages of education and work including attainment, re-training, stress, redundancy and unemployment
- Men’s health, including male cancers, shorter life expectancy, body image and workplace deaths – plus the health impact of Covid-19
- The challenges faced by the most marginalised men and boys in society – for instance, homeless men, boys in care, school excluded boys and the high rate of male deaths in custody
- Male victims of violence and crime – for instance, bullying, sexual violence, gang violence, and, those coerced into county lines and other criminal activity
- The challenges faced by men as parents, particularly new fathers and separated fathers
- Male victims and survivors of sexual abuse, rape, sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based crime, stalking. online image-abuse, sextortion and modern slavery
- The negative portrayal of men, boys and fathers
If you need to speak to someone, Samaritans are available 24/7 by calling 116 123 or by emailing [email protected]
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