When Standard Issue was founded in September 2014, it came from a place of concern about gender inequality and about how so much of the mainstream media panders to such a narrow definition of women, which is not just detrimental but dangerous to women. Research suggests that, while reasons for suicide in men are complex, a so-called ‘gold standard’ of masculinity, which values power, control and invincibility, played a massive part. Men are more likely to respond to stress by taking risks such as misuse of alcohol or drugs, and were less likely to reach out for emotional support until they reached crisis point. We believe it’s time we talked about this. Not us, but everyone. All of us at Standard Issue have lost men we loved because they haven’t felt able to ask for help, including Jen whose eldest brother Stephen took his own life 13 years ago, aged just 25. Sarah Millican and Hannah Dunleavy are joined by Sanjeev Bhaskar, Elis James, Richard Osman and Tom Allen for In Conversation With Standard Issue at The Shaw Theatre in London on Sunday 19 November. Tickets cost £16.50 and are available from Ticketmaster. And if you can’t get there: You can listen to the Standard Issue podcast on Acast or iTunes, or find out more at www.sarahmillican.co.uk/standard-issue.
