Men’s Health Week: Helping men navigate bereavement
June 2024
To mark Men’s Health Week, we wanted to talk about men and bereavement, and how to help men navigate the challenges of losing their life partner at a young age…
More than 22,500 people lose a partner in the UK every year – and more than one third of these are men. Losing a life partner is a deeply personal experience, impacting both men and women profoundly. However, men often face unique challenges in processing grief due to societal expectations.
Widowers’ grief can encompass a range of emotions, from profound sadness to feelings of isolation and uncertainty about the future. Many men find themselves navigating this journey without a roadmap, struggling to reconcile their grief while adhering to societal norms of masculinity.
With some of these struggles in mind, WAY Widowed and Young has just set up a Working Group to focus on men and grief, and to make sure men are reaching out for support through peer support networks like WAY, when they need it.
WAY Trustee Stuart Scarbrough, who chairs the Working Group, told us:
“The men’s diversity group gives male WAY members the opportunity to meet informally and discuss the impact of grief on our lives while focusing on inclusivity for all WAY’s 4,700 members.”
So, how can we support men who have lost their life partner? Here are some tips based on some of our members’ experiences:
1. Encourage open communication: Encouraging men to express their emotions in a safe and non-judgemental environment is crucial. Whether it’s through talking to friends, family, a therapist or other members of a peer support network like WAY, providing avenues for men to share their feelings can be immensely beneficial.
2. Offer practical support: Practical assistance, such as helping with household tasks or offering companionship, can alleviate some of the burdens of widowhood. Small gestures of kindness can go a long way in helping men feel supported during a challenging time.
3. Cultivate connections: Loneliness is a common struggle for widowers. Encourage men to maintain social connections and seek out friendship, support and understanding through friends, clubs or peer support networks like WAY where they can connect with other people who understand what they’re going through.
4. Acknowledge their grief: Simply listening and offering empathy can provide immense comfort to someone who’s mourning the loss of their life partner.
5. Emphasise self-care: Encourage men to prioritise self-care activities that promote their physical and emotional well-being. Whether it’s engaging in hobbies, exercise or relaxation techniques, taking care of yourself is vital during the grieving process.
6. Provide useful resources: If appropriate, encourage men to seek professional help from specialist support groups or bereavement counselling. Having access to resources tailored to their needs can make a significant difference in their healing journey. Members of WAY have access to telephone bereavement counselling as part of their membership.
Supporting men through bereavement is a vital aspect of promoting men’s health and well-being. By creating an environment where men feel comfortable expressing their emotions and seeking help when needed, we can make sure men are getting the support they need.
WAY Trustee Stuart, who was widowed at 31 with two young children, said: “As devastating as my situation was, knowing that there was support at the end of a phone - or online - gave me strength to face each day.”
This Men’s Health Week, please reach out to a bereaved man you know who might be struggling and let him know that there is help out there – he doesn’t have to face widowhood alone.
This Men’s Health Week, we share tips from some of our male WAY members:
David’s advice:
Read David’s story“You do not have to suffer in silence. If you don’t have a support network of family and friends, there are organisations and services out there who can provide you with help. There are helplines and all sorts of online resources. If you see someone who you think might be suffering in some way, don’t ignore it. Engage with them and see if there’s any way you can help.”
Gary’s advice:
Read Gary’s story“The support has been just brilliant. It’s just being able to have a network of people who get it, people who understand the situation.”
Darren’s advice:
Read Darren’s story“For me, it was comforting to know there are people in the same boat as you, as you can feel like you are the only one. Hearing people’s journeys, understanding why you feel the way you do and being prepared for future feelings you may have from people further down the line is very comforting.”
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