International Men's Day 2019
According to charity Calm, having conversations and bringing men’s mental health to light is essential as they report that suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45. Shockingly, the charity Samaritans also state that in the UK, men are three times more likely than women to take their own lives.
Founded only recently in 1999 and celebrated across over 80 countries there are six main objectives of International Men’s Day:
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To promote positive male role models; honest, decent, normal, every-day men
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To celebrate men’s positive contributions to society, community, family, marriage, children and the environment.
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To focus on men’s health and wellbeing; social, emotional and physical
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To highlight discrimination against men; in areas of social services, social attitudes & expectations and law
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To promote gender equality
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To create a world where people are safe and can strive to reach their full potential
This years theme
The theme of this year’s celebrations is ‘Making a Difference for Men and Boys’ where we look to advocate the need to value men and boys and help people make useful improvements in their health and well-being.
Our incredible team
At NQA we pride ourselves on investing in the best talent and we are so proud of the amazing men (and our fantastic team combined) that drive the success of our business. Here are some thoughts from some of the inspirational men within the company:
“On the 19th of November we will be celebrating International Men’s Day, where the theme is “Making a difference for men and boys”. But how do we as men make a difference? Albert Einstein once said that you should “try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value”.
I think that skills such as listening, kindness, compassion and team work are key to this and gladly fundamental to all we do here at NQA. I hope that living by these standards makes work and society in general a better place to be for everyone.”
Matt Barker, Client Executive
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“I can see a change in how men are supposed to behave and express themselves nowadays opposed to what was expected from my father’s generation. Even though my country of origin, Finland is a very equal and open society; men are still perceived to be strong, emotionless and stoic. These are seen as desired masculine virtues.
In the modern world you can be a proud man whilst appreciating the softer values in life. For me that is being present in my daughter’s lives and helping to look after them, and being able to show my emotions without being afraid of lacking in my alleged manliness.
NQA shows great support for new parents like me. I was allowed to take 2 weeks off to help my family to settle into our new life after my girls were born, even though I was a new starter and I didn’t qualify for statutory parental leave. Currently I am on flexitime, working 4 longer days so I can spend Tuesday afternoons with my children, just us three. Kids bring unforeseeable situations and NQA is flexible when these mishaps take you away from your desk."
“A real man loves his wife, and places his family as the most important thing in life. Nothing has brought me more peace and content in life than simply being a good husband and father.” - Frank Abagnale
Lasse Herukka, Client Executive
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"The world is changing for men in a positive way. For too long, men have felt they needed to be silent when things might be tough for fear of being branded as weak or as a lesser man.
I’m happy to be part of younger generation that is slowly but surely getting rid of the stigma around men’s mental health. There is still a long way to go, but a day like International Men’s Day shines even more light on a serious issue that we are trying to change.
NQA have switched some of their focus to mental health charities when fund raising, charities like CALM who do excellent work for all genders. I’m proud to work for an organisation who cares about the mental health of their employees, as well as those in the wider environment."
Sean McDonagh, Training Coordinator