The Importance of Seeking Therapy

While mental illness can hit anyone, due to societal norms, men are often more likely to bottle up their feelings and not seek the help they need. As a result, men are at greatest risk of suicide. According to the Black Dog Institute, in 2011, men accounted for over three quarters (76%) of deaths from suicide in Australia. However, an estimated 72% of males don’t seek help for mental disorders.

Blokes mental health - where to start?

• Catch up with a mate and talk – while it may be daunting to open up to your friends about your mental health, this is one of the best ways to seek the support you need. It is also integral in reducing the stigma around male mental health and helps to normalise men sharing their emotions.
• Don’t isolate yourself – try to stay social, see your friends and stay connected. This will ensure you are continuously reminded that people love and care for you and may help you to open up to your mates.
• Seek professional support – while it is good to speak to your friends, professional psychologists and counsellors are trained in providing support to people with mental health issues; they have the skills and knowledge needed to get you back on the right path to mental wellbeing. If you need help right now, contact a 24-hour hotline such as Beyond Blue or Lifeline. If you would like to speak to one of our friendly psychologists at Tonic Psychology , please reach out and make an appointment through this link.

What to do if you think your mate is struggling?

• Ask if they are okay – simply asking if they are okay in a genuine way opens up the dialogue to allow them to share how they are feeling, this really could be a life-saving question.
• Organise catch-ups – show them that your care for them and are there to support them by keeping regular contact, catching up when possible and encouraging them to share their feelings.
• Normalise talking about your mental health – share your own experience with mental health and provide reassurance that mental illness is normal and nothing to be ashamed of. Creating space for open dialogue and sharing is essential in combatting the negative stigma against male mental health.
• Encourage them to seek help – if you think your mate requires professional support, encourage them to seek it. Offering recommendations of services or sharing personal experiences with mental health may be a good form of encouragement.
• Ensure you care for your own mental health – caring for a friend with mental illness is often extremely stressful, so it is important to check in with yourself to ensure your mental health is not being compromised, and if you need support in helping your mates, don’t be afraid to seek it out, you are not alone in this.