Following on from an article in Fabulous Magazine called ” The Beauty Workshop Changing Men’s Lives” I would like to share this editorial about the charity Look Good Feel Better and their introduction of men’s workshops. This is in timing with the demand for greater awareness and support for all areas of men’s mental health.
Statistics show that 1 man per minute commits suicide, and in the UK 75% of suicides are men. With mental health issues in men coming to the forefront of awareness, these workshops are one of many arenas in which they can find support. Globally, 5.6 million men are living with prostrate cancer at the moment, and testicular cancer being the second most common cancer found in young me.
For the last two years I have been the regional coordinator for Look Good Feel Better in the East Surrey area and run workshops once a month at the Macmillan Centre in East Surrey Hospital. Since Look Good Feel Better set up in 1994 they had solely been focusing on women. The monthly workshops show 12 women (at some stage of cancer treatment) how to apply skincare and makeup. After running pilot sessions for the last 2 years for men, concentrating on skincare and hair care, they have now launched their first men’s workshop at St James University Hospital Macmillan Centre.
Its about having a safe space with which to voice your fears as well as having a laugh, sharing stories and learning new ways to care for yourself. All of these things which women have given to themselves for years, we are now able to give to men. With more males supported, hopefully the physical and psychological impact of cancer can be reduced.
Please read this article and if you’re in the beauty industry see if there’s a way in which you would like to help. Raise funds, volunteer at workshops, there’s lots of way to help and give a little back.
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