Every year, thousands of men and fathers in Denmark live in silence with violence, crisis, and loss of footing. Many are alone—not because help is unavailable, but because they do not feel they can ask for it.

This is precisely why the work of the Men's Center is so important, and why the Sol og Strand Foundation, Sol og Strand Margit and Kjeld, has supported the center's outreach and prevention efforts with a donation of 25,000 kroner.

"This donation is incredibly important for our ability to raise awareness of our work and thereby break down the taboo surrounding men who are victims of violence and crisis," says Chastine Nygaard Engqvist, Head of Press and Communications.

Chastine Nygaard Engqvist.

Over 43,000 men are exposed to domestic violence every year, but only one in ten seeks help. The Men's Center reaches out to around 2,000 men and their children annually, but the need is much greater.

"We help many people, but we know that the need is much greater," says Chastine Nygaard Engqvist.

With centers in seven Danish cities, Mandecentret offers free counseling, crisis center places, and a safe haven for men and families in acute crisis. The hope is to open more centers to meet the demand. In recent years in particular, the center has seen a significant increase in inquiries from fathers and children who are exposed to life-threatening violence.

Violence against men is taboo—partly because it does not fit with men's own self-image, and partly because there are not many stories in the media about men who are victims of violence and crisis. This means that they have no one to look up to as a role model. We know that many men are met with a system that finds it difficult to believe that they have been subjected to violence. Our experience is that men feel alone and find it difficult to seek help, says Chastine Nygaard Engqvist.

The Men's Center helps around 2,000 men every year.

The funds from Sol og Strand and Kjeld Sol og Strand Foundation will be used specifically to ensure that more men and their children can escape violence, insecurity, and social vulnerability—and receive the support they need to rebuild a safe and dignified life.

"Our goal is to spread awareness about the Men's Center and the opportunities available for getting help. It may not necessarily be a place in a crisis center that is needed, but rather counseling and support from a professional to help the person escape the violence or vulnerable situation they find themselves in," says Chastine Nygaard Engqvist.

FACT:

• The Men's Center was established in 2006 and has branches in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense, Esbjerg, Slagelse, and Randers.
• Nationwide, the center has over 110 places for men and children.
• The center helps approximately 2,000 men and 250 children annually.
• Works with counseling, residential facilities, and crisis centers.