Member's statement: Men's Action Network
Member's statement by Mr Mark Durkan on .
- MLA
- Mr Mark Durkan
- Party at the time
- Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Date
- 9 September 2024
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Men's Action Network
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4511099
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I call for urgent and sustained funding for the Men's Action Network (MAN), an organisation that has made an enormous impact on the lives of men in my constituency. The group has been life-changing for many and life-saving for some who felt that they had nowhere else to turn. Males accounted for 77% of suicides registered in 2022. That figure was even higher in areas of deprivation and among young men aged between 20 and 24. It is, therefore, ludicrous that such a key support network in Derry has been stripped of funding, with Ministers stating that there is nothing they can do in light of Departments' precarious funding positions and refusing to meet the group and hear from service users. Men face significant mental health challenges. Many struggle in silence, burdened by societal expectations of masculinity that discourage vulnerability, but that stigma is slowly eroding thanks to such groups as MAN, which provide a safe space, address isolation and give community support. I am sure that I speak for everyone here when I say that navigating the past few extremely difficult years would have been impossible without our voluntary and community sector. The sector has always stepped in when traditional statutory services have been overstretched, all the while working within extremely challenging budget positions of their own. MAN is unique in its intersectional approach. Few organisations address such a wide array of interconnected issues: mental health support; educational opportunities; breaking down barriers in the legal system; and, perhaps most crucially, working with male victims of domestic violence — so often an overlooked issue. MAN was the critical juncture in establishing a male refuge, plans for which have now had to be put on hold. The failure to fund an organisation like that sends a strong wrong message to men who are suffering. Let me assure them: there is still help out there, and no one has to suffer in silence. MAN's work spans several Departments, and thus ensuring that the group is funded should be the responsibility of the Executive as a whole. Investment will save the public purse in the long run by preventing crises and reducing the demand on overstretched public services. More importantly, it will save lives. A good Government would never leave MAN behind.
379 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.08 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.94).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.99).
- Subject area: Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.09 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.04 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.94 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.08 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.99 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.01 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.62 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.36 |
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.02 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:57 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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