House of Commons · Westminster Hall
21 November 2023 · 9 other contributors · 13,781 words
Opened by Nicholas Fletcher
Responding minister: Not recorded
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Nicholas Fletcher raised concerns about international men's day in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Fletcher called for the creation of a Minister for Men and Boys to address these challenges by coordinating efforts across multiple government departments. He also emphasized the need for policy changes in areas such as housing, family law, education, and healthcare.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Nicholas Fletcher highlighted the significant issue of male suicide, noting that thirteen men take their lives each day. He described a hypothetical scenario involving a boy named Tommy to illustrate how systemic issues can negatively impact boys and men throughout their lives, including family breakdown, lack of positive role models, poor mental health services, and insufficient community support.
She thanked several hon. Members for their contributions, noting concerns about suicide rates among men under the age of 50, particularly in middle-aged men and those facing relationship breakdowns, loneliness, unemployment, alcoholism, and financial difficulties. She highlighted health inequalities, shorter life expectancy, higher heart disease rates, and obesity issues among men compared to women. She also emphasized disparities in educational performance between boys and girls.
Supported the call for a Minister for men and congratulated A Band of Brothers in her constituency for providing male mentorship, highlighting its transformational success with young men.
Acknowledged her husband's support in raising their daughter while she is away for half of each week, thanked her father who was diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly after she entered parliament. Emphasised the importance of men taking advantage of screening programmes due to her own experience. Mentioned issues such as loneliness in rural communities and its impact on fishermen, advocating for village pubs as a safe space. Highlighted the significant mental health impacts on fathers following baby loss, including increased likelihood of relationship breakdowns within six months. Advocated for better support networks both inside and outside the family to ensure long-term resilience after bereavement.
The right hon. Lady agreed with Ms Creasy's points about financial constraints affecting men's ability to take parental leave, and advocated for a more balanced approach where the cost is shared between both parents' employers.
Jim Shannon highlighted the high suicide rates among men under 50 in Northern Ireland and discussed the stigma surrounding mental health issues. He also mentioned that one in three UK men have had suicidal thoughts due to stress, stressing the importance of addressing rural isolation and its impact on mental health. Shannon underscored the work of charities such as Beyond the Battlefield and SSAFA for veterans facing PTSD and poor mental health. Mr Shannon briefly mentioned his support for addressing challenges faced by men in society without resorting to culture war arguments. There are four men's sheds in my constituency: Saintfield, Portaferry, Newtownards and Ballybeen. These sheds have saved lives by providing a community for men.
Commended the hon. Friend for presenting a well-researched speech about Tommy and suggested that having a Minister for men would be a significant advancement. Karl McCartney thanked Fletcher for bringing attention to International Men's Day and stressed the importance of role models for both boys and girls. Commends the hon. Member for Northern Ireland's points about Samaritans and issues related to suicide, and expresses solidarity with his interventions.
Discussed the harmful effects of gender stereotypes on men and boys, highlighting issues like family breakdown, antisocial behaviour, mental health, and legal system biases. Emphasised the importance of equal voices at policy-making tables for both genders to ensure comprehensive policies. It is interesting that the hon. Lady has brought up the amount of time that men take off for parental leave, suggesting that even when more paid parental leave is available, it is not taken up due to a fear of letting people down.
Focused on the theme of 'Zero Male Suicide' for International Men's Day, highlighting that male suicide rates are three times higher than female rates in Scotland with 556 men dying by suicide last year. Emphasised the need to address societal expectations and mental health challenges faced by men, mentioning the importance of support networks like men's sheds and allotments.
Ms Creasy highlighted the challenges faced by men, particularly fathers, in terms of mental health and societal perceptions. She noted that while many studies show positive outcomes for children when fathers are more involved, such as better emotional development and educational attainment, working dads often struggle to find quality time with their kids due to financial pressures and lack of support from employers.