What is a men’s resource centre (MRC)? What happens in a men’s resource center? Who can join a men’s resource center? What are the benefits of joining a men’s resource center? How can I find a reliable men’s resource center?
My Name is Sean Galla. I am an experienced peer support facilitator with more than 10 years of online overseeing the MensGroup men’s resource center. I have firsthand experience with how peer support groups can help men as they go through different phases of their life. If you are a man in need of support, making friends, learning from fellow men, or simply enjoying good manly banter, a men’s resource center can be the best choice you ever make in your life. You can become a better man through peer support and lead a better, more fulfilling life.
In this article, you will learn about men’s resource centers and what they are all about.
Table of Contents:
What Is a Men’s Resource Centre?
The men’s resource centre can be termed as a regular meetup of men with shared interests in life. Usually, these are peer-to-peer groups that meet physically or online. Also referred to as self-help groups, men’s resource centers compromise people who share common experiences for different needs. It is also a space where members can come for helpful information for different life needs.
In a men’s resource centre, members have a free space to talk to fellow men and learn from others who are in similar situations or have gone through similar situations. This gives you a good chance of getting valuable insight, references, and help through firsthand experiences.
Common characteristics of a men’s resource centre include:
- It comprises peers – these are people directly experiencing or affected by a specific issue or circumstance.
- It is usually small in size to ensure it can address each member’s needs
- It is led by volunteer peer specialists or professional facilitators/discussion leaders
- It is voluntary to attend
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Who Can Benefit From a Men’s Resource Centre?
Men’s resource centres are created to meet different men’s needs through peer-to-peer support. For this reason, any man can benefit once they find an ideal resource center. While some may be free to join, the best groups charge a small fee for facilitation and effective running of the program.
Peer support can be useful for a wide range of life issues. You can find and join a men’s resource group for divorce advice, relationship advice, and substance use. Resource centers offer a social setting where men can meet other men in a neutral environment for friendly manly banter even as they gain access to helpful resources that can be helpful in different stages of life.
A peer support program is usually designed in such a way that peer supporters with adequate experience and knowledge can offer intentional peer support to their peers in need of services such as:
- Emotional support
- Men’s Health
- Social support
- Mental health issues
- Relationship issues
- Addiction
- Family violence
- Anger management
- Intimate partner abuse
- Divorce/ bereavement
- Childhood sexual abuse recovery support
- Parenting
Types of Men’s Resource Centers
Men’s resource centres can be classified as either formal or informal. The informal category can be offered in extension through social interactions/friendships, while the formal type is provided as part of healthcare.
Informal Men’s resource centre
This occurs naturally amongst peers and is the most common type of Men’s resource centre. People in this type of group offer social support based on personal experiences on a peer-to-peer capacity or in a community.
Examples include:
Walk-in centers/clubhouses – These are social support programs that come in the form of a social and psychosocial recreational focus where social support occurs naturally amongst the participants.
Mutual or self-help Men’s resource centre – these are consumer-operated organizations/peer activities/peer-run programs. They are voluntary and naturally occurring and offer reciprocal relationships amongst peers in a community setup.
Good examples include social/recreational Men’s center groups, arts/culture Men’s resource centre groups, spiritual/traditional healing Men’s resource centre, work/recovery education Men’s resource centre, disability/human rights Men’s resource centre groups, as well as anti-discrimination education Men’s resource centre.
These types of Men’s resource centres can be achieved using existing platforms such as YouTube, Facebook. And discussion forums. For instance, Men’s Group is an online-based judgment and stigma-free platform that offers Men’s resource centre meetups to men. It is run online where members in the group can meet virtually via video calls or through chats and discussion forums. Men’s resource centre group members are well equipped to support each other as a way of helping troubleshoot problems from different life experiences. They can also share information on accessing further help if needed.
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Formal Men’s resource centre
This is also referred to as an intentional community resources centre. It is a consumer-operated outreach service offered within a community either in a group or in a one-to-one setup for the well-being of a patient and as part of mental health treatment. It focuses on issues related to education, employment, MH system navigation, housing, food security, individual/systemic advocacy, recovery education, internet, transportation, and anti-discrimination work, among others. A good example is the men’s resource centre of Manitoba.
Examples include:
Workplace Men’s resource centre – these are work-based Men’s resource centre programs. Here, an employee with different life experiences is chosen and trained as certified peer specialist to provide Men’s resource centre to fellow employees going through similar issues.
Conventional/clinical MH system-based Men’s resource centre – this is an evidence-based practice offered in a clinical setting. It included inpatient and outpatient service, institutionalized centres, recovery centers, multi-disciplinary Men’s resource centre groups, and rehabilitation crisis response centers.
Community clinical Men’s resource centre – this is a Men’s resource centre program where Men’s resource centre workers are selected to offer services to clients/patients through the utilization of clinical services. This includes outpatient services, case management, A.C.T terms, and counseling.
These are usually affiliated with sponsoring organizations with paid peer providers. Because they operate as part of a more extensive system, peer workers in formal Men’s resource centre services play a significant role in making it possible for the people under their care to access clinical help, recovery support services, help for substance use disorders, and other services if need be.
The Benefits of Joining a Men’s Resource Center
You meet with like-minded people – a resource center puts you in contact with people who understand whatever it is you are going through or need. This is the best way to find ideal ways of how to become your best self.
Available support round the clock – men’s resource centres that double as support groups usually have a hotline you can contact at any time. Online support groups like Men’s Group are available 24/7, where you can join a discussion forum at any time, whether you are in Vancouver or Winnipeg.
Specialization – men’s resource centres come in many shapes and forms. Depending on your needs, there are mental health information groups, career advancement resources groups, divorce information support groups, parenting resources groups, and many others.
Directed advice – men’s resource centres offer directed guidance and help for different life issues. Whether you are facing problems at work or home, resource centre service providers can help in ways other services may not be able to.
No judgment – regardless of your situation, men’s resource centres are safe spaces for sharing. The people in the program have gone through similar issues and thus offer help and advice from experience. Talking to people who have walked in your shoes ensures there is no discrimination or judgment. this is the best way to help to rebuild your self-esteem.
Chance to give back – by being part of a resource centre program, you can learn and become a peer supporter to new members. You can also take the knowledge and experience to start men’s resource centre programs in your community as part of giving back.
The Men’s Group Men’s Resource Centre
If you need a men’s resource centre, Men’s Group is the perfect platform for you. This is an online-based group that seeks to create a community of men around conversations that touch on men. It offers a comfortable and safe space where men can share common experiences and learn from others who have walked the same path. As a sharing community, it allows you to offer peer support to others too. You will find all the resources and information you need to lead a better life as a man.
Conclusion
The idea that men should be strong and resilient without any form of social support is outdated and wrong. The best opinions come from people who have gone through common experiences before, as they can see the world from your perspective. Men need to have a safe space where they can share their achievements, fear, and dreams without fear of judgment. This is the only way to overcome different issues in a learning-friendly environment. Mensgroup.com is a men’s resource platform where men can get information, discuss issues, be in the company of fellow men, and network to better their lives as they learn through shared experiences.
*Sources: 1. Men’s Programs 2. Young Men’s Group, Men’s Resource Center of Western Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 3. Men's Resource Centre of Manitoba (MRC) 4. BC Men's Resource Centre 5. Understanding the context and causes of male health
