Men’s Table co-founder David Pointon said men often lost their friendship circles as they hit their 30s and 40s.
It’s healthy to show emotion and share feelings. Yet for many men in their relationships with other blokes, the talk is mostly about ‘footy and sh*t’. Yet many men look for a greater sense of belonging and connection.
The Men’s Table is a national non-profit organisation building groups or ‘Tables’ of men on a community level so they can come together for dinner monthly to talk about the highs and lows of their lives (and everything in between) in a safe place to share and be heard in a confidential and non judgmental environment.
The Men’s Table will be holding an introductory dinner or ‘Entree’ for the men in Canowindra on Wednesday 21st February at The Old Vic Inn from 7-9pm. We just held Entrees in Orange and Cowra earlier this week.
There are currently, close to 200 Tables all over Australia, and The Men’s Table is now just starting to build their presence in Western NSW, in partnership with Western NSW PHN. Successful ‘Entrees’ were recently held in Cowra and Orange.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports men account for three out of four suicides, with a median age of 46. The Men’s Table is one of a growing number of groups trying to reduce loneliness, build community and foster positive mental health.
Men’s Table co-founder David Pointon said the structure was needed because men hanging out with their mates usually kept the conversation superficial.
“When it comes to the traditional stoic man, there are a lot of unhelpful aspects of that version of masculinity, which is you’ve got to do it on your own, you’re in competition, you’ve got to suck it up, and you can’t show weakness,” Pointon said.
For more information go to: https://themenstable.org