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NEW PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT MEN ’ S MENTAL HEALTH IN WIRRAL
Local NHS Trust , Cheshire and Wirral Partnership ( CWP ), is now partnering with Birkenhead-based community organisation JourneyMEN to improve mental health services for men across Wirral .
This new partnership will see CWP ’ s Mental Health Access Team , refer men to JourneyMEN ’ s therapeutic services .
JourneyMEN provide a person-centred approach to support , including social interventions and peer-topeer support to enable people to live their lives as independently as possible .
Todd Jones , team manager , CWP Access Services said : “ We are delighted to be partnering with such a fantastic organisation like JourneyMen . By adopting this joinedup approach we will improve outcomes for Wirral men by being better enabled to help them access the best and most appropriate care available . During the current COVID-19 challenges , it is as important as ever for those who feel they need it to seek support .”
Nationally , men ’ s mental health is a huge issue . According to the Mental Health Foundation ’ s latest figures , published in November 2020 , three times as many men as women die of suicide . Men aged 40-49 also have the highest suicide rates in the UK .
Third sector support for men is also vitally important as , according to the Mental Health Foundation , men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women . Only 36 % of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men .
Joyce Pooley , JourneyMEN stakeholder manager , said : “ This partnership will help enhance the efficiency of men accessing our services , and will enable us as a small , grassroots organisation to help a greater number of men who could do with our support , which is needed now more than ever .”
CWP associate director for specialist mental health services , Jo Watts , said : “ On behalf of CWP I am delighted to partner with JourneyMEN in Wirral . We strongly feel that JourneyMEN share our values when it comes to mental health provision . That care should be provided in a person-centred way with interventions designed with the person being cared for in mind . By jointly providing this bespoke care we will be able to improve outcomes for men in our local community .” wirrallife . com 9