International Men’s Day (IMD) is an annual international event celebrated every year on 19 November. Inaugurated in 1992 on February by Thomas Oaster.
Jerome Teelucksingh, who revived the event, chose 19 November to honour his father’s birthday and also to celebrate how on that date in 1989 Trinidad and Tobago’s football team had united the country with their endeavours to qualify for the World Cup.
The objectives of celebrating an International Men’s Day, set out in “The Six Pillars of International Men’s Day”, include focusing on men’s and boy’s health improving gender relations, promoting gender equality , and highlighting male role models.
It is an occasion to highlight discrimination against men and boys and to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care. The broader and ultimate aim of the event is to promote basic humanitarian values.
This year however most men through twitter have specifically decided to open up about depression for people to know that its real and it is affecting men too.
Men get depression
Men get anxiety
Men get suicidal thoughts
Men get mental illness
Maybe instead of saying “man up”
Say
“It’s okay to talk about it”#InternationalMensDay
— Depression Notes™ ? (@depressionnote) November 19, 2018
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act.
Fortunately, it is also treatable.
Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.
Happy #InternationalMensDay to all you smashing lads. I hope you are loved. I hope you feel able to talk about stuff when you are stressed, sad or anxious. I hope you can still hear yourself in this noisy world. You are doing great. Keep going. pic.twitter.com/uGGBet5dKf
— Rachael Prior (@OrachaelO) November 19, 2018
Today is #InternationalMensDay
Men suffer with their mental health and live with mental illness.
In the UK 84 men a week die by suicide.
We need the men in our lives to know that they are not alone.
It’s really okay to not be okay fellas.
Keep fighting. ?
— James (@JamesConlon_) November 19, 2018
Men have been urged to open up and know that its okay to talk about depression.
I want boys to learn the benefits of therapy to save their mental health as men #InternationalMensDay https://t.co/SskAI3nxuU
— Metro (@MetroUK) November 19, 2018
Men who live in the UK:
12 men each day take their own lives;
7/10 murder victims are male;
90% of rough sleepers are men;
95% of the prison population is male;
84% of suicides linked to the recession were men.
We need do to better. This is not OK.#InternationalMensDay
— Dr. Jennifer Cassidy (@OxfordDiplomat) November 19, 2018
Some of the symptoms of depression include,increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others),feeling worthless or guilty,difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions,thoughts of death or suicide.
Do you know of any man that has overcome depression who wish to celebrate today?