Welcome to the Men’s Health CEO Series, where we engage with CEO’s who either lead a men’s health organisation or have facilitated men’s health initiatives within their institutions.
In this series, 5 questions are asked of executive leaders to gain insight into their respective organisations and their observations on men’s health today.
In this feature article, we speak with David Pointon from The Men’s Table
Q1: Could you please describe your organisation?
The Men’s Table is a national grassroots not for profit focused on community building and connection for men. Tables are a safe place for men to share and be heard in a confidential and non-judgemental environment, creating a greater sense of belonging, peer support and connection.
Enduring groups of 8-12 men meet monthly over a simple meal to get stuff off their chest and talk about the highs and lows of their lives and in doing so, improve their mental, emotional and social wellbeing.
Q2: Within your present CEO tenure, could you share some organisational highlights?
We’re in our seventh year of being a registered charity and I can honestly say that hearing individual stories of a man who becomes more connected, more mentally healthy, more able to express his inner world to others, and more able to listen and care for those around him is always a highlight. We have an @sharethelove chat channel with our team so we can share those highlights as we experience them.
The growth from one Table in January 2019 to 220+ Tables six years later has been a phenomenal achievement, and a great indication of the need – and inclination – amongst men to find safe places to share and connect with other men.
And our recent purpose and brand expansion sees us moving from just helping men become part of safe and trusted communities, to an expanded possibility; to make caring connection a universal male behaviour.
Our vision is for a safer, more cohesive society where all men feel comfortable expressing themselves and are connected with and caring towards themselves, their loved ones and their communities.
Q3: Over the next 5-years, where do you see the growth opportunities for men’s health organisations?
We have to help politicians, funders and philanthropists commit to supporting men, and have them believe this can happen at the same time as supporting women, and various disadvantaged communities.
Currently it is a rare politician who is willing to stand on the steps of their parliament and announce support specifically for men. It’s as if they’re not paying any attention to the crises affecting men in terms of loneliness, suicide risk and mental health challenges, all of which lead to social disconnection and risky coping behaviours.
The patriarchy is blamed for a lot of things, as if all men are the patriarchy. But we know that the patriarchy has affected men just as negatively as it has affected other groups of people.
Q4: If hypothetically, the Government offered your organisation an unrestricted $5M grant tomorrow, and you had executive control over its allocation- what one project would you spend it all on?
That project is a Table in every town – and it’s the work we’re doing each day already.
Imagine an Australia where every man can have a safe place with connection and care, for themselves and others, and then be healthy and connected men with their families and communities. There would be less pain and more healing, less isolation and more connection, less sickness and more good health, less violence and more love.
There are already thousands of men showing up each month to a Table. Making it hundreds of thousands of men would be transformational.
Q5: Lastly, do you have a favourite sports team, when & why did you start supporting them?
The Sydney Swans. It was amazing to see a team win a premiership after a 70 yr drought. They have the ‘bloods’ culture, where each player selflessly plays his role for the greater good.
Thank you for sharing with Real Men’s Health
