Higgins was speaking ahead of The Power of 10, an event to mark the 10th anniversary of Pieta House, Ireland’s centre for the prevention of suicide and self harm.
Pieta House CEO Brian Higgins is looking towards International Men’s Day, with the organisation hosting an event at The Blas Café in The Chocolate Factory, Dublin, next Thursday 17 November.
The event will take place in the lead up to International Men’s Day on 19 November and will feature a panel discussion hosted by Today FM’s Paula MacSweeney and featuring Higgins, campaigner and magician Shane Gillen, Breifne Earley, Moninne Griffith and more to be confirmed.
Free tickets are available here but be quick, as there is limited space.
“If we go back to the image of the Pieta – the image people associate with Pieta House – who shows the compassion, the strength and the care? It’s the woman,” says Higgins (main image, left).
“And who is the vulnerable one, the broken one? It’s the man. And who does suicide impact upon most? It’s men. So as we look towards International Men’s Day, we need to celebrate our masculinity but we need to understand our vulnerability.
“While Hillary Clinton didn’t get into office, you still have Angela Merkel and Theresa May, so there is female leadership on a global level. What does that mean for men? Does it scare us or does it give us confidence? Does it challenge us?
“As for Donald Trump, he embodies everything that’s wrong about masculinity.”
Paula MacSweeney said: “I am incredibly happy to host #ThePowerOf10 for Pieta House.
“Suicide has touched every community across Ireland and even in the town I grew up in I know of so many young lives tragically lost.
“So if an event like #ThePowerOf10 can get people talking about mental health and get us tackling stigma – and get the message out there that these life-saving services are there to those who need them – then that can only be a good thing.”
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