Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 25
THE IMPORTANCE OF
Men’s Mental Health
at Work and Beyond
BY CURTIS BAINES, CONVERGE
Mental health challenges affect millions
of men across Australia. Beyond Blue
reports that around 42% of men have
experienced a mental illness at some
point in their lives. This shows how
common mental health challenges can be.
We also can9t fail to recognise the
disproportionate suicide rates among
men. ABS data highlights that, each day,
seven men take their own lives. Sadly,
men account for most suicide deaths.
We all have a part to play in preventing
suicide and supporting the men around
us. Equally, with 71.2% of Australian men
in the workforce, organisations also
have a leading role. But what can we do
to make a difference? Similarly, what
can workplaces do to offer support to
their male employees? Well, there9s a
whole range of efforts and simple
measures that can be implemented.
Let9s explore how to support men at
work…
Men’s Mental Health
and Why it Matters
Men’s mental health can be de昀椀ned as
the emotional, psychological, and social
welfare of men. There’s a range of factors
that can add to the mental burden
many men face. For example, workplace
stress, relationships, male help-seeking
barriers, stigmas and pressure – the list is
endless. But how do we recognise when
a man in our life is experiencing poor
mental health? Some signs of mental
health issues in men could include:
• Irritability and frustration
• Social withdrawal
• Anger and aggression
• Increase or decrease in
sleep and/or appetite
• Feeling sad, hopeless, or lonely
Now, it’s important to note that many
people with mental health issues may
seem 昀椀ne on the surface. I can think of
times when I never realised that the men
in my home or of昀椀ce were struggling.
According to Priory, 40% of men conceal
their mental health issues. Another
worrying statistic is that some men
feel embarrassed to share that they’re
struggling. What does this tell us?
We need to dig deeper, pay greater
attention, and check in frequently.
That’s why it matters.
Suicide and mental ill-health rates are
signi昀椀cantly high in our male population.
Something needs to be done.
