International Men’s Day was on the 19th of November.
For the day, The Men’s Table hosted an event at NSW Parliament on Macquarie Street to speak about their work serving men and strengthening the care for men in our communities.
The Men’s Table is a registered not-for-profit, beginning in 2011 with 12 men who came together for dinner and to connect. Since, every month the same men have met up to express the highs and lows in their lives. But it has grown from the first group.
Now, 22 Tables across Australia run monthly, with 2,351 regular men coming together.
In 2023, 2,419 men died by suicide, 2.5 times more than road deaths, with 1 out of 4 Australian men reporting loneliness. The work of the Tables involves creating positive spaces for men to come and share, and break down their isolation and social disconnection to better themselves, and the relationships with others in their lives.
Recently, the Men’s Table 2024 impact and insights report was released. According to their data, the number one reason (43%) that men join the Tables is because they are looking for friendship and connection.
‘These issues of loneliness, superficial connection, family breakdown… they are all effecting the health and mental health of all men, and put a burden on those around them, and on the health system and on society,’ says David Pointon, Co-Founder and CEO of The Men’s Table. ‘Under all this is a common thread: they don’t have a safe space to share and talk about these challenges. And that’s where we come in. The Men’s Table goes beyond banter.’
Member for Willoughby Tim James MP and Member for Davidson Matt Cross MP were both in attendance.
For more information about The Men’s Table, visit themenstable.org
