The Humber Fortress DX ARC proudly supports the 2024 International Men’s Health Initiative, advocating for men’s mental health awareness on a global scale. We will be operational from the Club’s HQ during the weekends of May 17th-19th and June 14th-16th, utilizing the special call sign GB0MMH across all HF bands. We encourage you to listen to us and reach out; your support will significantly raise awareness of men’s mental health.

This year, GB0MMH will remain active throughout the duration, making it easy to identify us as we continue to raise awareness of MMH over the weekends. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the operators who have supported us in previous years and to those driving the initiative this year. 

For far too long, men have been hesitant to discuss their struggles and have lacked the necessary support systems. Fortunately, many organizations are now assisting men facing mental health challenges on an international level. It’s crucial to talk, and even better when support is readily available, which is being increasingly utilized by men in need.

Below are links to resources that offer in-depth information and support for those reaching out for help. If you or someone you know is silently suffering from depression due to financial or family-related issues, please share the information from the supportive community advocating for men’s mental health.

– Mens Health Forum
– Man Health
– Man Up
– Andy’s Man Club –

This organization is especially meaningful to us, with one of our HFDXARC members, Liam M7LCB, heavily involved in providing support to men by encouraging them to open up about their struggles.

We invite you to explore our website, sign the guest book, and share your comments, feedback, or suggestions. Links are provided below.

– Facebook
– Sign Our Guest Book
– Help Support Us – Make A Donation To Our Club

RUN THE DISHWASHER TWICE

Men’s mental health is not something we often talk about, something most men are not willing to talk about.

“It’s embarrassing”,” It’s something blokes don’t do”. “I’d be a laughing stock” are some of the many excuses that are used.

70% of men suffer from some kind of mental health issue, Stress, anxiety and depression being a few.

40% have never spoken to anyone regarding this

29% are too embarrassed.

20% still say there is a negative stigma surrounding it.

Yet men are more likely to commit suicide for this reason than women. A huge 75% of deaths by suicide for mental health is male. The biggest killer of men under 50 is suicide.

The above figures are only the ones that are reported. There could be double even triple that go unreported every day and it is time we made a difference. Time we helped men to talk, to realise “It is ok to not be ok”

HOW CAN I HELP

Let them know you’re there to listen to them without judgment

Someone who is experiencing mental health problems may find it hard to reach out, so try to keep in touch. A text message or a phone call could make a big difference

Find out about local services such as talking therapy or support groups. See if there are any specifically for men if you think they’d prefer that.

Help them to get help. Reassure them it’s okay to ask for help and that support is out there. You could help them contact their GP or accompany them to their appointment if they want you to

Take care of yourself. Looking after someone else can be hard, so make sure you consider your well-being too.

Andy Mans Club =

Men’s Shed = Phone: 0300 772 9626

Email: 

Hub of Hope = https://hubofhope.co.uk/

CALM = 0800 1111.

Samaritans = 0800 1111.

Why did I title this ‘Run the dishwasher twice’ you may be wondering. This was inspired by an analogy I was read when I started with my own struggles and there is no reason it can’t be applied to men.

It’s the thought behind it rather than the content. 

Keep your chin up – You are strong and you are worth it.

The Analogy is

Run the dishwasher Twice

“Run the dishwasher twice” might sound like strange mental health advice, but this beautiful lesson came from an answer from Katie Scott on Quora to the question “Has a therapist ever told you something completely unexpected?

“When I was at one of my lowest (mental) points in life, I couldn’t get out of bed some days. I had no energy or motivation and was barely getting by.

I had therapy once per week, and on this particular week, I didn’t have much to ‘bring’ to the session. He asked how my week was and I had nothing to say.

‘What are you struggling with?’ he asked.

I gestured around me and said ‘I dunno man. Life.

Not satisfied with my answer, he said ‘No, what exactly are you worried about right now? What feels overwhelming? When you go home after this session, what issue will be staring at you?’

I knew the answer, but it was so ridiculous that I didn’t want to say it.

I wanted to have something more substantial.

Something more profound.

But I didn’t.

So I told him, ‘Honestly? The dishes. It’s stupid, I know, but the more I look at them the more I CAN’T do them because I’ll have to scrub them before I put them in the dishwasher, because the dishwasher sucks, and I just can’t stand and scrub the dishes.’

I felt like an idiot even saying it.

What kind of grown-ass woman is undone by a stack of dishes? There are people out there with actual problems, and I’m whining to my therapist about dishes.

But he nodded in understanding and then said:

‘Run the dishwasher twice.’

I began to tell him that you’re not supposed to, but he stopped me.

‘Why the hell aren’t you supposed to? If you don’t want to scrub the dishes and your dishwasher sucks, run it twice. Run it three times, who cares?! Rules do not exist.’

It blew my mind in a way that I don’t think I can properly express.

That day, I went home and tossed my smelly dishes haphazardly into the dishwasher and ran it three times.

I felt like I had conquered a dragon.

The next day, I took a shower lying down.

A few days later. I folded my laundry and put them wherever the hell they fit.

There were no longer arbitrary rules I had to follow, and it gave me the freedom to make accomplishments again.

Now that I’m in a healthier place, I rinse off my dishes and put them in the dishwasher properly. I shower standing up. I sort my laundry.

But at a time when living was a struggle instead of a blessing, I learned an incredibly important lesson:

There are no rules.

Run the dishwasher twice.”

Why is this important?

Anyone who has been in a mental or emotional place where even just the most basic, mundane tasks seem overwhelming understands the wisdom in this lesson. I remember when I was at my lowest point a few years ago, just putting clothes away or tidying anything in my bedroom just seemed like a step too far. So it got untidy. And I mean REALLY messy (not just a little bit). So much so, that you couldn’t get to the bed, there was no clear pathway, as everything was just dumped on the floor.

And that was all I could do. No more. When I started my journey back from that dark and cold place, I committed myself to sort it out. As my self-respect started to flicker back into life, I wanted to make life better, and just a little bit beautiful again. I started with my bedroom as a representation of this fledgling hope that I could do it.

But the bedroom itself was too big a task, so I just started with making my bed. And then I sorted my dressing table. Eventually, the things on the floor got sorted and cleared away and it became a nice place to sleep and to be again.

Now, my bedroom is my sanctuary and is beautiful and serene and very much represents my mindset and my life. Honestly, it’s a thing of absolute beauty and brings me so much joy. Probably more so because it wasn’t so long ago that you would have thought I had given up on life if you saw it before (and I nearly had).

The Rules Just Don’t Matter

The point is, I understand when things are just too much. If it’s just too overwhelming to keep it all together, all of the time. Rules are just not important. I promise you. It’s ok to do what you can. It’s ok not to do the washing, or the recycling, or, or, or…

So if you just CAN’T do IT (whatever it is) today, Mc D’s it is for dinner.

If the thought of the kids fighting in the back of the car will bring you to tears, give them the iPads, the chocolate milk, or whatever helps give you a few minutes of peace and quiet.

It really doesn’t matter. The rules don’t count when your back is up against it. It’s ok just to get through. And if all you did today was hold it together, know that I AM PROUD OF YOU SWEETHEART.

This is just a chapter, not your whole life. It can get so very much better and I’m here to help.

Credit – Katie Scott

Club Secretary

Sue Turnbull – M6URG

73 for now.

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