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Buller Men’s health & wellbeing: Adapting Positively to a Changed Reality

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The July 2021 flooding event in Buller came at a time when many local people were still dealing with the effects of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.  And then a further lockdown in 2021 has added more complications and stress.

Recognising that these events will have impacted on men’s health and wellbeing, a number of community organisations have been working on ways to help men through. 

A series of presentations mostly by men and for men will take place at the Westport Bridge Club, starting on Tuesday 19 October from 6.30pm to 8pm; and the second in the series on Tuesday 26 October at the same time. 

Each evening will include two or three speakers, a panel discussion, and shared food and beverages (non-alcoholic). 

The first event in the Buller Men’s Health and Wellbeing series, on Tuesday 19 October features:

  • Craig Scanlon (physical health)
  • Doug Hendrie (mental health)
  • Bede O’Connor (rural men’s health)

The second session in the Buller Men’s Health and Wellbeing series, will run on Tuesday 26 October. That session will feature:

  • Silas Carey (Coast Physio, physical health)
  • Andy Giblin (registered counsellor, mental/psychosocial health)
  • Te Rua Mason (Ngāti Waewae, Māori men’s health)

Any women who wish to attend are welcome, but are asked to bring a man with them.

A Kawatiri Men’s Health Group is also being set up to follow the presentation series, to provide regular facilitated meetings for men in the Buller community.

More information about Kawatiri Men’s Health Group will follow.

The following is on offer for Kawatiri men

Come along, all men welcome! Poster – download…

 

Exercise opportunities

  • Contact Pulse Energy Recreation Centre to find out what’s available https://www.facebook.com/watch/pulseenergyrec/
  • For different sporting organisations in Kawatiri, contact Sport Tasman – Dale.A@sporttasman.org.nz

Parenting, fatherhood, family harm services

Support

Counselling for men

Māori health & cultural support

Disability support

Budget advice

Youth

Childcare

Help for people with mental illness

Local organisations, clubs and societies

Community service

Articles about men’s health

Health support

Rural

The Facts:

  • On average one New Zealand man dies every three hours of a preventable illness, with death rates for Māori men double that of non-Māori (Statistics NZ)
  • NZ Men live on average 4 years less than women, and yet still remain much less likely to talk to a GP about their health
  • Six out of 10 New Zealand males are overweight
  • Nearly a quarter of New Zealand men smoke
  • 27% of men have potentially hazardous drinking patterns
  • Māori men are twice as likely to die prematurely as non-Māori men, with heart disease, cancer and type two diabetes being the main causes
  • Māori men have the lowest life expectancy of any of the major population groups in New Zealand
  • Māori men are nearly twice as likely to be obese than non-Māori
  • One in eight New Zealand men will experience serious depression during their lifetime
  • In New Zealand males are three – four times more likely to commit suicide than women
  • Latest research shows that men are at greater risk of stroke than women, with stroke being the second biggest single cause of death and the largest cause of disability in adults in New Zealand
  • One in six men have experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact in their lives
  • Men under 75 are twice as likely to die of preventable diseases than women

FAQs:

What are the Buller Men’s Health and Wellbeing presentations?

The presentations are an opportunity for men and the people who support them to find out about men’s health and wellbeing issues and where they can access support and support others.

They are taking place at Westport Bridge Club, starting on Tuesday 19 October from 6.30pm to 8pm; and the second in the series on Tuesday 26 October at the same time.

Depending on speaker availability and interest there may be a third presentation on the following Tuesday 2nd November, 6.30pm to 8pm.

Why are they taking place now?

The July 2021 flooding event in Buller came at a time when many local people were still dealing with the effects of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. And then a further lockdown in 2021 has added more complications and stress. Recognising that these events will have impacted men’s health and wellbeing, several community organisations have been working on ways to help men through.

Why the focus on men’s health and wellbeing and not on women’s health and wellbeing?

These presentations and the organisations and people behind them recognise that all members of the Buller community have been impacted by the July 2021 flooding event and Covid-19, and deserve appropriate support. These presentations are funded as one of a number of initiatives of the Buller flood response.

What will each of the presentations focus on?

Each 90-minute presentation will have three speakers who will each provide a brief overview of an aspect of men’s health and wellbeing i.e., physical health, mental health, relationships, work etc. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and give input following each presentation. Information will be provided about services available for men in Buller. There will also be a panel discussion with the presenters taking questions from the audience.

There will be different speakers at each of the presentations and there will be some who are at both. All speakers will be available to answer questions at the end of their presentations and during the panel discussions.

Men are a diverse group; will these presentations take account of this?

It is recognised that men are very diverse in terms of age, ethnicity, culture, background, lifestyle etc. These presentations are targeted at men in general and are seen as hopefully the beginning of further conversations and initiatives around specific groups of men and the particular needs of these groups.

Who can attend and will there be any cost to attend?

The presentations are open to all and there is no entrance fee. In the hope of getting as many men as possible to attend it is requested that women wishing to attend are accompanied by a man. Tea, coffee, and food will be provided.

Register for the Buller Men’s Health & Wellbeing presentations at sara@homebuilderswpt.co.nz, or phone 027 644-0523

I can’t attend one/either sessions. Where else can I go for support/information?

You are more than welcome to attend just one session if you can’t attend both – we hope to pack enough information into one session that they will be valuable as a standalone! In addition, a resource capturing key messages and service information will be made available online and around the community around the time of the series.

What happens after?

After the initial presentations there will be an ongoing initiative called the Kawatiri Men’s Health Group that will meet on a regular basis. This group will be led by two skilled facilitators. Its purpose is to offer ongoing support and help for men, by men locally.  For more info please contact kawatirimenshealth@gmail.com.

More info – Downloadable flyers

The following flyer is available for download and viewing.

Upcoming Meetings: Adapting Positively to a Changed Reality – Real conversations about real issues confronting men today – download…

 

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Page last updated: 12 November 2021

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