I became aware of a local sucide prevention initiative recently. The minutes of their last meeting showed that in attendance were representatives of Schizophrenia Fellowship, the local District Health Board, Pull for Humanity, CYF and two female “educators” from the government Suicide Prevention Project. Others who had been invited included Ministry of Education, Police, Primary Health Organisations, Alcohol and Drug services, the local District Council, several iwi-based Maori trusts, a Pacific Island Trust, a Regional Workplace Development organisation.

Notice the ommision? There are no representatives of men’s or fathers’ groups.

Whom would one invite if one wanted men’s and fathers’ input? Try a NZ Google search for “men’s group” and you will find pages of Essentially Men and Promise Keepers before coming across anything like Union of Fathers or MENZ. What can we do about ensuring that everyone knows where to go if they want a men’s or fathers’ representative?