Thank you so much for attending this special knowledge-sharing event on male suicide research, generously sponsored by MANUP?
MANUP? recognise the growing trend of men starting to open up about their mental health challenges. They aim to take this a step further by cultivating a culture of attentive and empathetic listening. They strive to equip individuals, be they partners, family members, or friends, with the understanding and tools necessary to support the men in their lives effectively.
Registration
If you haven’t already signed in, please do so here:
Agenda
Throughout the day, we will be discussing some deeply emotional topics. Please know that you are free to come and go from the space as you need to. Your well-being is the priority. Throughout the event and afterwards, I encourage you to take care of yourself – take time to do something grounding and gentle to help bring you back to the present. Thank you for being here and for taking part in these important conversations.
10.00 – 10.30: Registration, tea, and coffee
10.30 – 10.45: Welcome by Dan Somers, CEO, MANUP?
10.45 – 13.00: Why do men die by suicide? – An overview of research by Dr. Susie Bennett.
There will be short breaks for personal reflection and comfort throughout this session, and we will cover the following topics:
>> Tools for understanding suicide
>> Male suicide risk and cultural norms of masculinity
>> Male suicide risk and childhood challenges
>> Male suicide risk and help-seeking barriers
13.00 -13.10: Meet Jody and Jonathan’s House, a space for men who have suffered abuse to talk, heal and be restored.
13.10 – 14.00: Lunch
14.00 – 15.30: What can we do to help? – recommendations and research priorities by Dr. Susie Bennett
15.30 – 15.40: Comfort break
15.40 – 16.50: Interactive panel and audience discussion: What works for men?
16.50 – 17.00: Closing remarks
Speakers
Jody Goldsworthy, Jonathan’s House Ministries. Jody is a survivor of childhood and domestic abuse and the founder and CEO of Jonathan’s House Ministries. Men who have suffered abuse need a place where they can go and receive support to get past the trauma and other side effects of abuse. Jonathan’s House Ministries firmly believes in all men, and that all men deserve to be healed, restored and eventually fulfilled.
Through building safe spaces and educating people on the effects of abuse, we believe we can change things for male victims of abuse across the UK.
Panel
Dan Somers, MANUP?. Dan, the founder of MANUP?, will be speaking at the event, sharing the journey behind a charity that began as a single event and rapidly expanded. MANUP? now funds vital research, offers free therapy for men, and conducts talks aimed at both men and women to shed light on why men might not engage with available help, support, or conversation. Dan often asks, “Men are talking, but are we listening?” His mission is to challenge perceptions and ensure that when men speak up, their voices are heard.
Dan Bracken, James’ Place. Dan has been head of James’ Place London since his arrival in February 2021, following a year as interim CEO of a local branch of Mind in South London. He is a qualified UKCP Psychotherapist and has over a decade of experience as a mental health support worker, service manager, counsellor and coach working with men and women experiencing homelessness. Passionate about finding new and effective techniques to help people find change in their lives, he is particularly interested in developing improved service models for people who do not fit mainstream services. Dan’s focus on suicide prevention has been a mainstay throughout his career and training, he is now focused on expanding our work and the evaluation of our work into London.
Melanie Bradley, Men Against Mountains. Men Against Mountains Mens Movement is a worldwide community support hub, where we provide mental health and life support, connect men with each other through their life experiences of mental ill health and lived experiences.
We listen and educate through men sharing their stories.
We pinpoint and connect men to relevant support services and grassroots groups, and charitable organisations.
Mark Brook, Senior Policy Advisor. Mark Brooks is a senior public policy adviser and thought leader in promoting men’s health and inclusion. He gained an OBE in 2019 for his work supporting male victims of domestic abuse. He is a national ambassador for International Men’s Day, chair of the ManKind Initiative domestic abuse charity for men and also a trustee of the Men and Boys Coalition. He is also the policy adviser for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Issues Affecting Men and boys and was the lead author of their highly regarded report on male suicide.
Martin Seager, Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Martin Seager is a consultant clinical psychologist and an adult psychotherapist. He is a practitioner and campaigner on mental health and male gender issues. He worked in the NHS for 30 years and was head of psychological services in 2 NHS Trusts and an adviser on the health secretary (2005-2007). He also did regular mental health broadcasts on local and national BBC radio (2003-2009).
He is co-editor of the Palgrave Handbook on Male Psychology and Mental Health (2019) and an author of about 70 academic papers and book chapters. He advised the national and central London Samaritans between 2006 and 2017. He has worked in the homelessness field with St Mungo’s and “The Big Issue” (2010-11 and in the addictions field with “Change, Grow, Live” (2016-20). He is co-founder of the Male Psychology Network, the male psychology conference (UCL) and the Male Psychology Section of the BPS.
Resources
Public guides of all the papers discussed today can be found here.
Feedback
Our goal is to make these events as impactful and helpful as possible, and your feedback is invaluable in helping us achieve that. Please take 10 minutes after the event to give your thoughts and suggestions on how we can improve the day. The feedback is anonymous, so please feel free to be completely honest to ensure we make future events even better. Complete your feedback here.
malesuicideresearch.com 