National news
Mental Health Week
This week we’re taking time to focus on maintaining good mental health. We’ve scheduled a series of podcasts, stories, exercises and chats with staff and Olympic competitors to share their insights into living our happiest lives.
You can find all these activities and events on our Youtube channel. Or if you’d like to join the conversation you can always reach out on social media:
International Men’s Day
Part of Mental Health Week is International Men’s Day (IMD), so we wanted to find out a little bit more about why this day was launched and what its founders hoped to achieve.
It was conceived in 1991 by Thomas Oaster, to celebrate men and boy’s achievements and contributions. It was later relaunched in 1999 by Jerome Teelucksingh, who wanted to revive the event to be fully inclusive for everyone who identifies as male.
Jerome chose 19 November to honour his dad’s birthday, but also didn't want to encroach on International Women's Day on 8 March, which we'll be covering in much greater detail next year.
Positive conversations
IMD supports a yearly broad theme, focusing attention on: living happier lives, suicide prevention, promoting positive role models and this year ‘better health’.
In the UK, IMD is organised by the ‘Men and Boys Coalition’ who are helping to launch a number of initiatives, including: a Parliamentary debate, policy launches, employer days, community activities, gigs and fund raisers, all helping to start positive conversations.
Find out more
For further information about events in your area and to learn more about the valuable work this day supports, you can find further reading at these helpful sites.
