I solo founded and run a men's suicide prevention nonprofit organisation in the UK. It's early stage bootstrapped at the moment but I have long-term plans.

I've facilitated 200+ talking meetings at this organisation and another I was involved with previously. Anecdotally, the average attendee at the male-only meetings is ~45 years old, has some level of issues with personal and/or professional boundaries, has had suicidal ideation more than once, and has made plans for or attempted suicide more than once.

There is some form of survivorship bias in the above, but I get a lot of pride from our groups keeping men alive. We haven't lost anyone in 2 years.

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Steve44 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Firstly can I give you a big hug for what you're doing.

Do you find that things such as the man-shed groups play an important part? I feel that life can be more isolating these days and where people move about more and life runs at a faster pace there is less time and fewer opportunities to fully relax and just "talk shit" with someone.

For me TV programmes like Mortimer & Whitehouse Gone Fishing are a reminder of how we should be spending some of our time.

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petecooper 4 hours ago | parent [-]

>Firstly can I give you a big hug for what you're doing.

Always! Next time you're down in Cornwall, let me know!

>Do you find that things such as the man-shed groups play an important part?

Yes. There is a demographic of men who need to be solving/fixing/building, and that time (together) is therapeutic. My group offers a round table talking format, and it's built around common sense & lived experience with appropriate guard rails for group meetings. We also run walk & talk sessions where any man is welcome to join (with or without a well-behaved dog) for a stomp around.

This is where the 'straight ahead' conversations might happen, they're less confrontational than a round table thing. Both inside & outside events have the 'shoulder to shoulder' thing, that's a conscious decision.

>I feel that life can be more isolating these days and where people move about more and life runs at a faster pace there is less time and fewer opportunities to fully relax and just "talk shit" with someone.

100%. I am reminded of a comment from @kstenerud:

>"We may work online, but we exist in the flesh."

[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49863683]

>For me TV programmes like Mortimer & Whitehouse Gone Fishing are a reminder of how we should be spending some of our time.

Yes! New series soon, I'm told.

	▲	Steve44 an hour ago \| parent [-]
		Thank you, great response. > who need to be solving/fixing/building, and that time (together) is therapeutic Yes, I think thinks like that not only keep the brain working but allows you to concentrate and switch off from everything else. Keep it up, you're doing very important work that change lives. * edit word.

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faeyanpiraat 19 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I would imagine it feels like a huge responsibility, and also immensely fulfilling.

I couldn't imagine being brave enough for it, props to you for doing this!

	▲	petecooper 19 hours ago \| parent [-]
		It's a responsibility and fulfilling, extremes at both ends. The key thing is self-management, and knowing limits. I learned a lot from the ASIST course, and I retake the full two-day training every two years or so: https://livingworks.net/training/livingworks-asist/ I have no connection or affiliation with the organisation beyond being a delegate.

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contingencies 12 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Nice job. There's a group here in Australia who pass around crazy shirts with 'this is a conversation starter' aimed at men's suicide prevention. Neat marketing gimmick, maybe you can partner with them and use it. https://trademutt.com/pages/this-is-a-conversation-starter

	▲	petecooper 10 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Love it. Thank you.