A day for all men

EACH YEAR, on November 19, nations across the world celebrate International Men’s Day – an opportunity to reflect on, highlight and encourage the important roles men play in society. This day is an opportunity to shine the spotlight on some of the issues affecting men and facilitate discussions on topics concerning them; their well-being and advancement. While we do so, let’s look at just how this observance came into being:

HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL MEN’S DAY

Indian men’s advocate Uma Challa has been instrumental in bringing about awareness around International Men’s Day. In 2007, she raised awareness about the shocking abuse that men suffer in the anti-male legal system. Uma Challa is the founder of a number of organisations, including the famed Save the Indian Family Foundation, a nonprofit based in Bangalore. She inspired Warwick Marsh, the founder of Dads4Kids, to dedicate a day to men.

One of the major issues around men’s health and well-being in this day and age is mental health. Men with mental illnesses are less likely to have received mental health treatment than women in the past year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, men are more likely to die by suicide than women. Recognising the signs that you or someone you love may have a mental disorder is the first step toward getting treatment. The earlier that treatment begins, the more effective it can be.

The proposed objectives of

International Men’s Day include a focus on men’s and boys’ health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models. It is also suggested as an occasion whereby men may highlight discrimination against them and celebrate their positive achievements and contributions to communities, places of work, friendships, families, marriages, and child care.

The Gleaner wishes to extend happy Men’s Day to all Jamaican men who have continued to play a valuable role in their homes and communities. A grateful nation salutes you all.