1. ‘…sometimes the things that worry people the most is the last thing they will talk about…’ Applying a gender lens to inform national suicide prevention interventions. Aisling Keohane, Dr Noel Richardson, Dr Aoife Osborne, National Centre for Men’s Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland.

2. Research… Why? Methodology. What was explored?

3. Why?

4. Methodologies… Qualitative Focus Groups (n=10) ‘Risk Groups’ & ‘Potential Help Givers’; 1.Farmers 2. Sports professionals & coaches 3. Public Health Nurses 4. Religious Group 5. Travellers 6. Unemployed 7. Students 8. Men’s Health Professionals 9. Educators 10. LGBT

5. What was explored? Barriers in seeking help and looking for support Feelings and attitudes towards suicide Individuals ability to give help & how. Levels of comfort in seeking help & how.

6. Initial Focus…  Informing the design of a national mental health Campaign.  Little things  www.yourmentalhealth.i e www.yourmentalhealth.i e

7. Vignette… You have recently lost your job which you have had for 12 years. You are worried about the mortgage for your house. Subsequent to this your relationship has gone pear shaped. You’re walking down the street and you bump into your close friend. Q What would you like to happen? You are the friend of someone who has lost a job of 12 years as well as their relationship going pear shaped. You’re walking down the street and you bump into your close friend. Q What would you do? Have a think…

8. Key Findings ‘Elephant in the room’

9. Masculinities & Mental Health

10. Connection / Disconnecti on Gendered differences Masculine spaces Breaking cultural norms Relationship Breakup Job loss Retirement

11. Double burden Talking about my distress Job Los s

12. Offering help without compromising a man’s masculine identity Masculinities and the language of emotion- reticence and non reticence, blunt forms of communication, not being treated differently

13. Alcohol Practical Help

14. Contact Help givers and contact; A)Friends-always someone closer B)Family-too close for comfort C)Professionals- negative outlook on services CONTACT

15. Trust

16. Signs and Risk Factors ‘…mental health is not a one way direction, you know that they have to be vulnerable or this way or that way it can just come across in other ways as well…’ Dorothy, TR.

17. Initial contact Keeping contact as a potential Help giver Making contact, encouraging acceptance Help If my radar is correct, you have a sad elephant ? What are you talking about? Thanks for offering me help, but I’m OK!

18. Skills, Training & Personal Experience Skills, Training & Different layers of help giving.

19. Personal Experience a catalyst in the Triad of help.

20. Thresholds & Boundaries Once we over step those boundaries or thresholds, there is no going back....

21. Reaching a threshold of severity before help seeking Acknowledgment /acceptance of a problem Waiting for a level of severity to pass before one would offer help. OK Nothing wrong Fine Not so good Get over it Awful Wait & see Severe it’s time

22. Boundaries of help giving Offering a sense of comfort- boundaries and help giving And now I hand you over to Paddy…

23. Implications…  You have recently lost your job which you have had for 12 years. You have a mortgage for your house, subsequent to this your relationship has gone pear shaped. You’re walking down the street and you bump into your close friend. Q What would you like to happen?  You are the friend of someone who has lost a job of 12 years as well as their relationship gone pear shaped. You’re walking down the street and you bump into your close friend. Q What would you do ? HELP TAKING HELP SEEKING HELP GIVING Contextual factors

24. In looking at the stepping stones of success… …each stone needs to be consider ed so that we can cross rivers without falling in.