“Employee mental health is a key part of my role,” says Steve Harris, Chief People Officer at University Hospital Southampton NHS FT, ahead of our Men’s Mental Wellbeing session with psychologist and wellbeing coach Lee Chambers on 27 March. “There’s been a lot of positive change over the past decade with men’s health and it’s encouraging to see more conversation and people being more comfortable to open up about how they feel or to feel that they can support others,” says Steve. “There’s obviously some way to go, but these are steps in the right direction and I’m looking forward to the insights Lee will share in his session with us.”

This is the first of three sessions Lee is running for NHS and Primary Care colleagues in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, organised by the region-wide Health and Wellbeing Programme Team. It’s open to all colleagues.

Lee says: “People assume that because you work for a health system you automatically know what to do about your own health, but it can be hard to get the confidence to prioritise your health too.” Steve agrees. “Self-care does not need to mean less care for others. Our Chief Nurse, Gail Byrne, often uses the analogy that to care for others you need to put your own oxygen mask on first; to be your best to give the best help you can.”

Steve and Lee share the same goal of wanting to see more men, and in particular those in senior positions, become part of the change to bust stigmas around men’s health. Lee says: “I will know when I’ve made a difference when we get a number of high-profile men with large platforms sharing their experiences openly and vulnerably.”

In the session on 27 March, Lee will share his story, challenge stigmas and discuss strategies, vulnerability and communication. Participants will find out about developing confidence to take care of their own wellbeing, how to have wellbeing conversations as men, and find a sustainable way that works for them to take care of their wellbeing on an ongoing basis.

Two further sessions take place: Male Allyship and Inclusion (24 April 1-2pm) and Men and Menopause (12 June, 1-2pm). We’ll publish joining details for these soon.

Daniel Winter-Bates, Joint Head of Organisational Development for the HIOW Integrated Care Board and Delivery Manager in the HIOW Health and Wellbeing Team, says: “We are pleased to be collaborating with Lee on these sessions. There are facts upon facts about poor male health and wellbeing and over the years I have had many male colleagues come forward and share their own stigma-based experiences in regard to reaching out for more support. There’s also so much more room for male allyship across the board. Please colleagues in HIOW if you can make time to attend, the sessions will be fantastic.”

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https://www.hiowpeople.nhs.uk/its-time-to-talk-about-mens-health/

Male Mental Wellbeing with Lee Chambers