Feniks

We have worked with Feniks for a number of years, growing our understanding of some of the intersections of other forms of stigma, discrimination and adversity with mental health stigma and discrimination, particularly for men in the Polish community in Scotland. We have worked in partnership with community members to tackle it.

A report from Feniks and NHS Scotland in 2018 found that the level of suicides among the Polish men in Scotland was nearly twice as high as among the other white Scottish counterparts (96% higher).

See Me and Feniks worked in partnership to dig deeper into these findings, producing Mental Health & Suicides Among Polish Men in Scotland, 2020, a report looking at what is contributing to the suicide rate, and what we can do to stop it.

From 173 men who answered the questionnaire 66% said they had suicidal thoughts and 24% attempted suicide.

The report found how experiences of immigration, racism, institutional barriers and toxic masculinity contributed to feelings of loneliness and homesickness, alongside difficulties in accessing appropriate services and creating meaningful friendships with other men. Internalised stigma from experiences of these systems can play a role in compounding feeling unable to reach out for support.

In order to attempt to tackle some of these issues, See Me supported Feniks to create the campaign “Shed Your Armour, Show Your Scars”. Led by Polish lived experience ambassadors from the Polish Community, the campaign seeks to challenge some of the stereotypes that can lead to Polish men feeling unable to reach out, talk about how they are feeling and access help and support. The campaign won Campaign of the Year at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations' (SCVO) Scottish Charity Awards