Shining a light on men’s mental health

Kristof Mikes-Liu says breaking down mental health stigmas is crucial.

Men’s Health Week runs from June 9 to 15 and spotlights the key health challenges faced by men and boys across Australia.

Western Sydney University (WSU) plays a large role in the awareness-raising week alongside Healthy Male with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

“We work in partnership to coordinate Men’s Health Week in Australia, and we joined forces because we both share a very strong and aligned vision that we need to be doing more to support men’s health and encourage men to engage with health services,” said WSU Director of the Centre for Male Health, Emma George.

Emma George.

“The more we can normalise conversations about men engaging with their GP, engaging in preventative health checks, or talking about things like their mental health, the better off everyone is going to be.

“We know that healthier men lead to healthier families and healthier communities.”
And there are some key areas of concern in western Sydney.

“In western Sydney we see quite high rates of different kinds of chronic diseases, particularly things like diabetes. We also know that rates of overweight and obesity are probably a bit higher than where we’d like to see them,” George explained.

“But we also know there are some complex barriers that people in western Sydney face when it comes to their health.

“We have a very culturally diverse population, we’ve got a lot of people whose first language is not English, so that brings additional barriers to engage with health services and understand how to navigate the health system.”

Mental health is another area of concern. Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Medical Director of Mental Health Kristof Mikes-Liu has some advice.

“In the Penrith area, we know that people struggle. We know that loneliness and social disconnection can sometimes be an issue, especially since COVID,” Mikes-Liu noted.

“There is stigma around saying things aren’t good, and for men, that kind of stigma can come out in different ways.

“If you think about the traditional roles of men as breadwinners or having to be strong, it can be hard to say they’re not doing OK. The counter to the stigma is to say that showing vulnerability is an act of courage and strength.”

Fortunately for Penrith men, every Thursday is an opportunity to check in at the Men’s Walk and Talk which is overseen by local community service WestCare.

“We’ve now seen six years of positive outcomes,” WestCare Director Andrew Paech said.

WestCare Director, Andrew Paech. Photo: Brooke Grosse.

“Many men have come to our walk in challenging personal seasons, and you see in a variety of ways how the walk has helped facilitate positivity during that.

“Some engage for a short time to deal with the things that require attention, and others come and find a great social network.”

The Penrith Men’s Walk and Talk runs every Thursday night at 6pm, starting and finishing at the Nepean River Coffee Club. The weekly walk comes with free coffee and a friendly and non-judgmental environment.

Find out more about Men’s Health Week online at http://www.westernsydney.edu.au/centre-for-male-health/home. You can also find out more about the importance of seeing your GP at healthymale.org.au/see-your-gp.

Ally Hall

Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.

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