Sports and fitness could be used to improve men's mental health in York and North Yorkshire as its mayor opened up about his struggles following the death of his father.
David Skaith said he shut himself off after losing his father Bob in 2021 but speaking about his feelings, sports and socialising helped him come to terms with his loss.
The Labour mayor added York and North Yorkshire could lead the way in shifting the dial on men’s mental health which particularly affected local rural, isolated communities and male-dominated professions.
It follows a meeting between the mayor, combined authority officials, NHS and charity representatives and public health specialists to discuss plans for a new Men’s Mental Health Taskforce.
Proposals discussed on Friday 25th April are in their early stages, with details including timescales and funding yet to be worked out.
But the meeting heard it came as the country faces a public health crisis with suicide being the biggest killer of men aged 50 and under.
It also heard an estimated four in five men will experience some form of mental health issue during their lives.
Officials also discussed the effects tackling mental health issues among men could have on the economy by helping more people get back into work.
The meeting discussed how mental health issues could be tackled particularly given the amount of men working in traditionally male dominated professions like farming and the military locally.
Ideas included using sport and pitching mental health self-care in terms of fitness to try and encourage men to become more conscious of the issue.
They also included getting men who might otherwise be isolated to spend more time together.
Mr Skaith told the meeting he hoped speaking out about his own experiences could help to promote efforts to improve the mental health of men.
The mayor said:
“After losing my dad during the coronavirus pandemic I completely shut myself off and I stopped spending time with my family and friends.
“I wasn’t doing anything to care for myself, it wasn’t until I went back to sport and being back in that environment with other people started to help.
“Men will go running and go to the gym but how much are we actually doing to look after our head space too?”
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