Fathers4Justice founder launches Save Our Sausages campaign – urging men to TALK about their health issues
Matt O'Connor called for the Government to appoint a men's minister to co-ordinate a response to spiralling rates of depression and suicide in men
A Government minister for men is vital if we are to tackle a 'public health emergency' threatening the male population, the founder of Fathers4Justice today urged.
That is the serious message underpinning a new awareness drive, aimed at getting men to open up and talk about their health issues, he said.
Save Our Sausages is the brainchild of Matt O'Conner, who in the 15 years since he established Fathers4Justice, has tirelessly campaigned on behalf of the male of the species.
The father-of-three sons, from Clapham, south London, told The Sun Online he considers alarming suicide rates among men, coupled with staggering death rates from cancer, and issues including erectile dysfunction and low testosterone a "public health emergency".
We need to encourage men to talk about these deadly serious issues, depression, high rates of suicide, low testosterone, cancer death and violence. As the father of three boys I am really concerned about the lack of talking that goes on
Matt O'Connor
He has called on the Government to appoint a minister for men, to focus on these serious health issues - rightly pointing out there is already such a role focused solely on the rights and concerns of women.
Today, Matt will be on hand to launch the new campaign at The Butchery in Forest Hill, London.
There the Fathers4Justice founder will be cooking up a storm, grilling up a new brand of sausage he helped to create with the acclaimed British butchers.
Made to a special recipe, the SOS Viagra Sausages, include Welsh pork, seasoning and their added "secret" ingredient - natural Viagra or L'Arginine, Horny Goat Weed and Ginseng, asthe herbal mix is better known.
"They taste amazing," he told The Sun Online yesterday after a test run to try the sausages.
"But, behind all the fun is a very serious message.
"We need to encourage men to talk about these deadly serious issues, depression, high rates of suicide, low testosterone, cancer death and violence.
"As the father of three boys I am really concerned about the lack of talking that goes on around men's health issues."
The inspiration for the Save Our Sausages campaign came from Matt's own personal experience.
The breakdown of a past relationship sent him into a downward spiral that ended, as is the case for increasing numbers of men, depression.
"I was very depressed, very down, I was drinking too much, I was suicidal," he admitted.
"I really struggled to keep it all together.
"But, I like most men, found it very hard to find the courage to talk about what I was going through."
THE MEN'S HEALTH CRISIS BY NUMBERS
DEPRESSION: 16 per cent of men suffer from anxiety or depression
SUICIDE: Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. Twelve men every day take their own lives
VIOLENCE: Men are twice as likely to be victims of violent crime and 40 per cent of domestic violence victims are male
CANCER: 53 per cent of all cancer deaths are men. 237 men die from cancer every day
LOW TESTOSTERONE: Men with a lower level of testosterone have a 33 per cent increased risk of dying and low testosterone is linked to depression, obesity, tiredness and erectile dysfunction
FAMILY BREAKDOWN: Dads are three times more likely to die after separation than mothers
Matt drew inspiration for the campaign from his own experiences, battling depression and from watching the new series of Cold Feet, where Pete Gifford played by John Thomson, far right, is battling depression
Fifteen years down the line, and Matt found himself watching the new series of much-loved Cold Feet on ITV.
Watching one of the protagonists, Pete Gifford, played by John Thomson, battle with depression, Matt found himself questioning why in all the time he was been campaigning for fathers' rights, nothing has been done to address this men's health emergency.
"I felt a responsibility to do something, to raise awareness about these issues and to me the best way to do that was through humour and fun," he said.
His ultimate goal, he revealed, is to establish an annual Save Our Sausages BBQ Saturday, to keep the issues on society's agenda.
"It is food for thought, to get people talking," he stressed.
"Women's charities have done it brilliantly with the various breast cancer campaigns.
"Humour is the best way to raise awareness, it's what has kept me going, it kept me alive.
"The ability to laugh and find humour in a terrible situation will keep you going.
"Laughing, then talking that is the aim, a good entry point to talk about these issues."
But, as important as a campaign like this is, Matt is adamant, the Government must take responsibility.
"A lot of the guys we deal with are crushed, they are hanging on to life by their fingertips," he told The Sun Online.
"It is easy to become depressed, turn to alcohol and that turns into an abyss of despair.
"If we don't talk about these issues, how can we expect to solve them.
"The Government has to be pro-active too, we must have a minister for men to co-ordinate a response."
All the proceeds generated from selling the Save Our Sausages will be donated to men's charities, including the veteran's mental health charity, combatstress.org, Andys Man Club which helps tackle male depression and checkmelads.com, the testicular cancer charity.
A packet of six handmade sausages costs £4.99 and will be available from The Butchery in Forest Hill today.
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