Men's Health Month
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
“Our fathers, partners, brothers and friends face a health crisis that isn’t being talked about. Men are dying too young. We can’t afford to stay silent.”
BREAK THE STIGMA
Weather it be a mental illness, physical illness an injury or as basic as getting a general check up by your local GP, our men are NOT TALKING.
Research has indicated that men’s mental health is worse than ever in Australia:
“Incidence of mental health issues in young men
Between adolescence and young adulthood, anxiety, depressive, and attention-related disorders are the leading causes of disability for young Australian males. In any one year, 1/10 young Australian males experience suicidal thoughts, and 1/5 young Australian males feel as though life is barely worth living.
On average, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives.
Barriers to accessing services
Upon entering adolescence, males tend to disconnect from healthcare services, and this often continues throughout early and middle adulthood. This could be due to a number of reasons:
- Males tend to experience greater ridicule and social punishment for engaging in non-traditional gendered behaviours, such as displaying vulnerable emotions, seeking help, or expressing hurts. As a result, they often feel the need to conceal vulnerability and maintain independence
- Many men report being unaware of services that are available to them, have little time to access services, or fail to believe that a healthcare provider can help with their symptoms
- In particular, mental health practitioners have been identified as the least accessible sources of mental health support by young men
- Men may experience barriers to seeking help from health professionals when they perceive other men in their social networks as disparaging the process.
- Cost or presumed cost can also play a role in young men not seeking help There can also be fear and uncertainty regarding acceptance of differences (i.e. cultural, sexuality)”
Statistics adapted from https://headspace.org.au/assets/clinical-toolkit/CT-At-Risk-Young-Men.pdf
A national stigma persists to this day that goes back generations, that men HAVE to be STRONG, TOUGH and RELIABLE with whatever the circumstance. Whatever circumstance it may be, research has shown that this is NOT working. It is NOT SUSTAINABLE in the long term.
Did you know that your brain is connected to the rest of your body?
It is hard to believe for some, that when our brain is stressed, anxious, nervous or depressed that this may be why we feel the way we do physically. Do you feel sick to the stomach? Do you forget things easily? Do you sweat? Do you have trouble sleeping? Or do you sleep all the time?
“I have no energy…no motivation”
What can you do?
“Its okay not to be okay”
The following have been scientifically proven to assist with mental and overall well being and health.
TALK
Talk to someone, whether it be a psychologist, GP, wife, parent, child, friend. Talk to someone. We are all HUMAN and sometimes we all need a little help. We can’t know everything all at once. Humans are designed to learn and grow. And sometimes we get hurt, but that’s okay. YOU have the power to prevent things from happening.
MOVE
Exercise has been proven to release endorphins which is a hormone that promotes a feeling of happiness. Exercise also allows oxygen and blood circulate the entire body so your brain gets enough energy to survive the day. And I am not talking about physical activity with your work. I don’t know about you but farmers or tradies will constantly say “I work out all day long” ….Yes this is true, but is it associated to something negative or stressful? Movement and physical activity should be a time away from all stressful stimuli. You only have ONE body, ONE brain, ONE heart, we have to look after it.
LISTEN
Listen to others. When you talk to others, you should listen to what they have to say also. It may surprise you at what someone might have to offer. You might even find they are going through the exact same thing at the EXACT same time.
EAT
Eat a well-balanced diet. Eating well will allow you to gain all of the nutrients your body physically needs to function well and gain energy. Have you tried running car or engine without putting fuel in it? It may not start…or even more extreme blow up your engine.
BALANCE
Find a balance within your life. Whether it be work life balance or Life family balance. You must try to find a balance with everything. There is only so many hours in a day, you can not do it all as sad as that may be.
SEE YOUR GP
Technology has invented this amazing thing called a telephone, heard of it? I am sure you use it a lot during the day. Pick it up, call your GP or call a psychologist. There are people everywhere around Australia who their soul job is learning and treating men just like you. You will be surprised at what they have to offer. Do not be shy, no one will judge you for being HUMAN.
“WE ARE ALL HUMAN”
Jessica Mawbey
Occupational Therapist