Mukhtar Rehman lost his father during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. After a long battle to cope with his own grief, during which he ultimately found peace and healing in nature, he is now hoping to do the same for other men in similar situations by launching a Yorkshire Dales walking group. He has found support through our Championing National Parks for Everyone project after becoming a Community Champion in spring.
“Men from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to access formal mental health services,” Mukhtar, from Bradford explains.
“Yet many men are impacted by grief, loss, and cultural stigma around expressing emotion.”
Research recently published in the British Journal of General Practice, external found that South Asian men in the UK are more likely to experience mental health issues but are less likely to access talking therapies.
Many men navigate grief, anxiety, and distress alone, the study concluded, underlining the need for culturally sensitive, community-led approaches.
Mukhtar opened up to the BBC about his own grief and community work to help others in similar situations during a recent online article. You can read the full piece here.