Older men have the highest rate of suicide in Canada, and the risk increases after retirement.
But London researcher Dr. Marnin Heisel hopes to reduce the risk through a unique program to help men make an easier transition into retirement.
It may be just a friendly card game at the seniors’ centre, but more importantly, it’s a way to stay active and engaged after retirement.
Heisel says for some men, their very identity becomes tied up in their jobs.
“For men especially, we often tend to value ourselves in terms of our productivity, our work role, our contribution to some product or something like that, service in society.”
He is using a $575,255 grant from Movember Canada to offer community-based groups across the country for men in their 60s who might be vulnerable.
It will allow them to meet and perhaps mitigate the stress of retirement.
The goal is “That they’ll find meaningful engagement in activities and over the course of that will experience an increase in psychological health and well-being, and a decrease – if present – of any stress, depression, even thoughts of suicide.”
It’s also hoped the research will resonate with employers, perhaps leading to the creation of workplace mental health programs for employees around the time of retirement.
“Recognizing that offering the retiree a shake of hands, cufflinks and out you go, isn’t quite enough,” Heisel says.
The support groups will also provide something some men have already discovered, the importance of making friends outside of the workplace.
