Grouchy Old Men? Promoting older men's mental health and emotional well being

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide an overview of key issues involved in older men's mental health and well being and describes a service improvement project called Grouchy Old Men? that focused on older men who were isolated and at risk of depression and suicide.

Design/methodology/approach

Grouchy Old Men? was a two‐year project that used a “change agent” model of organisational development, which aimed to improve the mental health and well being of older men through gathering and disseminating examples of good practice and piloting a training module to raise awareness about the mental health of older men.

Findings

The project was successful in supporting and promoting a number of local initiatives and organisations, as well as a national network, seeking to develop services to better meet the needs of this group, as well as raising awareness more generally about older men's mental health.

Practical implications

The paper suggests ways that services for older people can develop in order to make themselves more accessible to older men with mental health needs.

Originality/value

The paper brings together policy, research, and practical service improvement initiatives that will be of interest and relevance to policy makers, practitioners, and anyone with an interest in the mental health of older men.

Citation

Williamson, T. (2011), "Grouchy Old Men? Promoting older men's mental health and emotional well being", Working with Older People, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 164-176. https://doi.org/10.1108/13663661111191284