Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Men and Boys is a national initiative to transform community conditions that influence mental wellbeing. Populations of focus include men and boys of color, veterans, military members, and their families. Sixteen coalitions in rural, urban, and suburban locations across the U.S. are activating strategies to improve conditions that can affect the wellbeing of men, boys and their families, including social connections, economic and educational opportunities and assets, and improvements in the physical environment. The Movember Foundation is funding the work; Prevention Institute is providing coordination, training, and technical assistance; and a team from the University of South Florida is evaluating progress and outcomes.
Making Connections communities are:
- Reframing concepts of mental health to include wellbeing and resilience;
- Shifting the focus upstream to emphasize mental health strategies that promote prevention and resilience as a complement to treatment and services;
- Expanding approaches to address community conditions that influence mental health and wellbeing in addition to those that focus on individuals; and
- Integrating gender- and culture- informed strategies that meet men and boys where they are, and that recognize and embrace a broad range of positive masculine qualities.
Population of focus: men and boys, and their families, veterans
Links to resource:
- Learn more about Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Men and Boys
- Read the report Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Men and Boys in the U.S. (pdf) that outlines themes the initiative is focusing on to improve outcomes for men and boys
- View Making Connections communities in action such as
- Listen to Making Connections podcasts
- Learn more about the Prevention Institute, The Movember Foundation, and the University of South Florida
Date: 2018