International Men’s Day: Raising Awareness of Men’s Health & Wellbeing

This International Men’s Day, we are celebrating the amazing men that work at Alternative Futures Group (AFG), as well as other inspirational men around the world.

International Men’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities.

To celebrate this year’s theme of ‘Positive Male Role Models’, we spoke to one of our Area Managers, Daniel Batley, and Director of Business Development, Phil Tattersall, on the importance of looking after your mental health and wellbeing, and how positive male role models have inspired them in their personal and professional lives.

Daniel Batley, Area Manager at AFG

How do you look after your wellbeing?

“I think it’s important that we all prioritise open communication. My team and I have some very honest conversations and I think this goes a long way in helping to reduce stress. 

Speaking from experience, the unknown can be a big driver when it comes to stress. When you’re trying to work through a situation, it helps to have a structured approach where you break the problem down into smaller pieces, and assign a way-forward to each stage. Once you have an outline it’s good to link in with people such as your peers or manager. Getting reassurance from others is…assuring!

A work/life balance is very important to me. We all of course have occasions when we put in some extra time to get something past the finish line. This should however not be the norm, if it is then you should absolutely be reaching out to your line manager to discuss your responsibilities.”

“I’m really fortunate to work for an organisation that values the work/life balance of its employees, and the option to opt-in to a 9-Day Fortnight has been well-received.

I’m sure that most people have just as busy a home life as I do. That said, it’s important to fit time into your home life to focus on yourself, whether this is a hobby or time to switch off.  Personally, I enjoy listening to music (physical media snob here) and can easily sit in a chair and just listen. I also enjoy reading, one recent book being ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear.  It would fit into the self-improvement category and is about how lots of small improvements over time have a compounding effect which then contribute to a huge achievement. This book particularly resonated with me as the applications apply to both work and on a personal development level. As well as this, the principle of lots of small improvements compounding is exactly what we do when working towards the outcomes and goals of the People We Support.”

Who is a positive male role model for you and why?

“You usually think of a celebrity figure when considering role models. Personally, I find myself inspired by everyday people. Two examples would be my GCSE Maths teacher and my A-Level History teacher. I didn’t particularly appreciate them at the time but as I’ve grown and reflected on my past they were both people who were able to get the most out of me. They both had a great way of teaching by holding the classes attention through story telling which I think is an important skill to have. It was clearly effective, given that I still remember their classes despite now being in my 40s.”

Phil Tattersall, Director of Business Development at AFG

The Importance of Men’s Mental Health

“On International Men’s Day, I want to take a moment to reflect on the importance of men’s mental health. Mental health struggles don’t discriminate by gender, but sometimes men find it more challenging to talk openly about them. Today is an opportunity to encourage open conversations, break down stigmas, and remind men everywhere that mental health is just as vital as physical health.”

At AFG, we’re committed to fostering well-being and resilience in all our communities, including our team members and those we support.”

“For me, one way I prioritise my mental health is through daily activities that allow me to reconnect with nature and unwind—such as walking my dogs. Walking in the fresh air, with a couple of furry friends by my side, gives me a much-needed mental break, keeping me grounded and refreshed.

Taking regular walks in nature is a small but impactful part of my routine to stay mentally fit. I encourage everyone to find their own ways of maintaining well-being, and for men especially, let’s keep the conversation open and supportive. Whether it’s walking, talking to someone, or just taking time for self-care, each step matters.

Here’s to supporting each other in leading balanced, healthy lives.”

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