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