We need to remind men that mental health issues are common, they are not a sign of weakness, and that there are very effective ways to improve one’s health and wellbeing.
Reaching out for support is a sign of strength.
Why is it important to address men’s mental health?
Common mental health issues and risk factors for men:
- Drug and alcohol use
- Social isolation
- Relationship issues (e.g. divorce/separation, family, parenting)
- Financial stress
- Work related pressures
- Unemployment or retirement
- Physical illness
Support for men
- Choose strategies that target men specifically (i.e. not gender neutral) for better effectiveness
- Change the environment – use a friendly space to discuss mental health
- Engage an ambassador (e.g. sporting or media personality to share their story and normalise mental health issues)
- Offer strategies for improving mental health which do not involve talking:
- Good nutrition and physical activity
- Using humour
- Spending time with friends – surrounding yourself with positive people
- Accepting negative feelings and realising that these will pass eventually – seeking professional support if these feeling persist or increase in severity
- Setting and achieving goals
Compared to women, men are:
- 3 x more likely to die by suicide
- 2 x more likely to die due to drug use
- 2 x more likely to die because of alcohol abuse related causes
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Men are 50% less likely to access mental health services than females. |
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Globally, every minute, a man dies by suicide in Australia and 75% of suicides are men. |
