Breaking the silence: The importance of International Men's Day

How many times have you heard or seen those expressions, whether it’s chatting to someone, watching television or browsing online?

With a dated expectation that ‘men should be men’ and act a certain way, it’s not surprising that 1 in 5 UK men don’t make it to 65. Alarming, yes. Surprising, no.

It’s an attitude that sees men of all ages suffer in silence, whether that’s concerning their mental health or physical wellbeing.

Why BI WORLDWIDE are celebrating International Men's Day?

Occasions such as International Men’s Day (IMD) - taking place on 19^th November - are intended to break that silence, not only giving men a voice to speak with but an ear to talk to.

But why are we even celebrating IMD in what’s already considered a male-dominated world? Because, despite all the advantages being male still offers, the reality is that men are struggling.

IMD is a chance to highlight the serious issues that men and boys face in modern society.

For example, why do boys consistently perform worse than girls academically - by 2019, boys had achieved worse exam results than girls for 30 years.

Or why prisons are full of men - 96% of the prison population, in fact.

Or why at least 82% of rough sleepers in England in Autumm 2023 were men – that’s 3,214!

IMD aims to break down the barriers men face, to improve mental and physical wellbeing, and to encourage positive male role models.

Mental wellbeing – checking with friends

Did you know that 14 men die every day by suicide in the UK? Or that it’s the most common cause of death for men under 50.

Scary, isn’t it.

One way that IMD aims to reduce those numbers is by promoting togetherness, whether that’s catching up with friends you haven’t seen in a while or making time for future friends.

It’s taking the time to chat, to check in with each other, and to find out how things are going.

“The weather’s rubbish, isn’t it?!”, “What are you watching on TV?”, “How’s the new house?”

The chat doesn’t have to be profound to be meaningful. Just the act of talking is beneficial.

Of course, having a reassuring connection with a friend, especially on a regular basis, can offer a platform and a confidence to open up; a chance to say things aren’t going so well.  

Take Wednesday Waffle, for example. It’s a simple premise. But a powerful one.

When Zachary Perez revealed on TikTok that his group of friends have been sharing short life update videos with each other every week on a, you’ve guessed it, Wednesday, the clip went viral. And the waffle? No, not a reference to the dessert but to the slang term for talking.

Not only has the clip been viewed over a million times, but it’s also been praised for encouraging consistent connections between friends, something that many men often need but never do.

Physical wellbeing – checking yourself

It’s scary to think that around 12,000 men die from prostate cancer every year. That’s one every 45 minutes. In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.

It’s a disease that’s been in the news a lot recently with Sir Chris Hoy revealing he has terminal prostate cancer, despite having shown no obvious symptoms.

But having displayed significant strength during his time in the saddle, Sir Chris has even surpassed that by sharing his story and inspiring many men to get themselves checked.

Following his announcement, NHS England reported a massive 672% increase in visits to their prostate cancer symptoms website. Proof that talking helps!

Chris Hoy has proved an inspiration both on the track and off it.

Inspirational male role models  

Speaking of inspirational, an objective of IMD is to promote positive male role models who act as an example to boys and men to help reduce toxic masculinity and promote a safer, better society.

As outlined above, Chris Hoy is clearly inspirational. That’s reflected in the extraordinary response to his announcement. But what about inspirational figures in everyday life?

For all the obvious qualities and positive influence that sportspeople and actors have, just how relatable are they to the everyday man on the street?

It’s just as important to have working-class men to look-up to who live decent, honest lives, and who help guide the narrative on a daily basis and steer it from the traditional and toxic mindset.

IMD celebrates male diversity and is an opportunity to promote alternative, kinder, more liberated versions of masculinity that can act as genuine role models for boys to aspire to.

International Men's Day and BI WORLDWIDE

But who inspires our own Associates? As part of our IMD celebrations this year, we spoke to several of our Associates from around the business to find out what the occasion means to them, who their own male role models are, and why they inspire them.

International Men’s Day is more than just a date in the calendar; it’s a call to action. It’s a reminder that men’s health—both mental and physical—matters. It’s a chance to challenge outdated stereotypes and to celebrate the diverse and positive contributions men make to society every day. By promoting open conversations, encouraging regular check-ins, and highlighting inspirational role models, we can create a more supportive and understanding environment for all men.

Here’s something else men are often told: Nice guys finish last. But as six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy has shown, nice guys can indeed finish first.

So, this International Men’s Day, let’s take a moment to reach out, to listen, and to inspire. Because when men thrive, everyone wins.