07

Pub communities get men talking about mental health instead of sport

Recent research by male suicide awareness group HUMEN showed that men spend four hours a week at the pub, discussing sport and other stereotypically masculine pursuits, but only 15% would talk about how they really feel. To address this, HUMEN partnered with 15 pubs to place trained mental health professionals in these establishments to encourage men to talk in more relaxed surroundings. The group also hosted a mental health pilgrimage, with participants undertaking a 5,151m walk, each step representing a man who lost their life to suicide in the past year. ‘Pubs are the cornerstone of many communities,’ say the organisers. ‘The perfect place to encourage dialogue.’