TRYING to get male victims of domestic violence more help was one of the biggest issues to emerge from a recent men’s health meeting.
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Founder of the Men4Life support group David Simister said men were increasingly becoming victims of domestic violence.
“We have got to get more support for blokes who are victims of domestic violence because there are so many out there in the community,” he said.
He cited the One in Three campaign to back up the claims.
One in Three aims to raise public awareness of the existence and needs of male victims of family violence and abuse; to work with government and non-government services to provide assistance to everyone affected by family violence; and to reduce the incidence and impacts of family violence on Australian men, women and children.
The men’s health meeting was held as part of national Men’s Health Week at the Nowra Youth Centre and hosted by Men4Life.
Mr Simister said there was no denying men had a history of being violent towards women but he wanted more support to help men because the consequences could be serious and could mean more men committing suicide.
The shame of being a victim of domestic violence could, according to Mr Simister, prevent a man from seeking help.
“He could be laughed at,” Mr Simister said.
Mr Simister said he was happy with getting 26 people to attend the meeting at which the question of where a male fitted into society today was discussed.
Mr Simister said men still didn’t know where they fit in and life can for them can become a struggle.
He said the “toughen up approach” taken by men simply did not work.
“Men should soften up and be able to ask for help,” he said.
“We all have our troubles and we all have to ask for help.”
He will be lobbying local politicians to get more support services for men.
Some men who had not attended the group in two years came to the meeting.
Mr Simister said it was good to see the former members of the Men4Life group.
“They spoke about how the group helped save their lives,” he said.
“When you hear something like that it’s worth your weight in gold.”
The Men4Life group meeting Tuesdays at the Nowra Youth Centre and Mr Simister can be contacted on 0431 549 593.
