Across NSW October is Mental Health Month, Mental Health Week runs from the 9th to the 13th and the 10th is World Mental Health Day. With this in mind we wish to raise awareness for men’s mental health and take a look at the simplest of ways to show support and drive positive outcomes for more blokes.

On average, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. Depression is a high risk factor for suicide and this statistic plays an evident role in the suicide rates with blokes making up an average of six out of every eight suicides in Australia.

Building positive social connections is something that we can all try to do, simply listening to someone in need of an outlet can make all the difference. An effort to reach out to someone who might be feeling a bit lost or finding a way to connect with others when you need some help may be all it takes to readjust and find a positive direction.

Feeling connected with others can give us a sense of security, support, purpose and happiness. Close connections and good relationships with others can help us enjoy the good times as well as cope with difficult experiences.

The theme for this years Mental Health Month is ‘Share the Journey’, which means trying to understand where someone is emotionally, how they got there, and where they are going. Be it at work, between family and friends, at school or in the community. We can all help by Sharing the Journey this October.

For more information on Mental Health Month download the factsheet from wayahead.org.au.

To access more online resources and for immediate support visit beyondblue.org.au.

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