Men’s Health and Wellbeing in New Zealand

This literature review was prompted by concerns in Canterbury about the  lack of engagement by mental health professionals with the issue men’s experience of male childhood sexual abuse. Feedback by mental health professionals inside the CDHB (local health board) is that it is best not to address  men’s experience of childhood sexual abuse while inside the mental health system because research shows that it doesn’t help them/ re-traumatises them.

The review was conducted by Silas Thielmann as part of his social work student placement. It found that there was no support in the literature for the above position and that the literature showed quite the opposite. He found that the trauma that men experience in the form of chidhood sexual abuse is being under addresed by the range of professionals that deal with mental health, and that there is a case for social workers, mental health workers, and counsellors to more actively screen and work with men’s childhood sexual abuse.

Professional responses to male survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Dads and Smoking Cessation is the summary of a pilot project that coaches fathers of new babies to stop smoking. They appeared to have a remarkable success rate and if it’s repeatable it could be a worthwhile way to alter smoking patterns in the broader community.

Perspectives on men’s health

Views from a group of

Occupational Health Nurses

“The workplace setting has the potential to reach large numbers of healthy men who are otherwise difficult to reach normally … Arguably [this is] the one area where men’s health screening takes place.”

(Furber, cited in Harrison & Dignan, 1999)

Occupational Health Nurses and Mens Health

The attached document is a snapshot of research from New Zealand related to a range of men’s health issues. We hope to maintain this document and update it as opportunities arise, but it would be great to know if people are using it, so plese contact us at info@canmen.org.nz .

Also, if you know of any relevant research not included please forward it to us, ideally in the form referred to on the cover letter.Canterbury Men’s Centre MENS HEALTH BIBLIOGRAPHY Nov 2010

The following summary was done by Jonny Kirkpatrick for Sports Canterbury with funding support from the Alcohol Advisory Council and Partnership Health Canterbury.

The State of Men’s Health in Canty

This report was written by Donald Pettitt in 2000 as part of a research paper in completing his Masters Degree in Social Work from Massey University.

Fathers and Anti Male Bias in the Family Court (PDF)

by Julie Dlasková

Praha 2007

Abstract
This thesis examines the responsibilities and roles of fathers who practise a shared care arrangement in order to get a better understanding of how traditionally perceived women’s and men’s tasks are divided between the father and the mother after separation. Special emphasis is given to gender equality in responsibilities and roles traditionally ascribed to women and men, to decide in which aspects, fathers who practice shared care can be seen as ‘new fathers’. Previous research projects on fatherhood have indicated that in two-parent families it is typically the mother who takes the major responsibility for private sphere duties such as nurturing or domestic labour, while the father’s role lies in providing and financial support (Cohen 1993) (Ranson 2001) (Segal 1990). For this reason the actual existence of the ‘new father’ in society has been doubted.

In-depth interviews conducted in New Zealand with fathers who were in a shared care situation showed that their responsibilities and roles changed after separation and became equalized between both parents. New circumstances, a gender equal attitude and a wish to be a part of the children’s lives made the fathers become responsible for nurturing aspects of parenting and day-to-day care. This thesis suggests that study of ‘non-traditional’ family arrangements where ‘conditions’ have changed challenge the current scepticism of the ‘new father’ and brings new perspectives to the discussion about changes in gender division of roles and responsibilities within the family.

New Fathers and Shared Parenting

Jimi McKay’s lecture at the June 2008 Men’s Health Hui in Christchurch was very well received. This is an interesting read to understand barriers to men accessing health and welfare services.

NZ Men and Mental Health Services

Research into the leisure needs of men in Hei Hei, Christchurch conducted with funding by the Christchurch City Council.

Hei Hei Men’s Research Report (Full Text PDF, 767Kb)

by Warren Mason

Abstract

This research project presents a new paradigm for men who work tirelessly to maintain adult relationships, often only to see them eventually breakdown because of circumstances that they unwittingly experienced during childhood. The project considers how early childhood challenges can affect close relationships as adult men. It will identify the effects and present them in a bio-psychosocial framework. Also, the project will suggest that change and modification of early childhood experience is possible, changes occurring through a suggested safe eclectic counselling model, thereby offering these men freedom from relationship challenges. Finally it will consider the ethical and Christian perspectives of counselling, from a New Zealand viewpoint.

Overcoming Relationship Challenges for Males (Full Text PDF, 767Kb)