MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health is something that men are getting better and better at talking about. There is a growing understanding that although mental health issues can be triggered by stresses in daily life, they are clinical diseases that often require outside help and medical treatment. They can affect how a man feels, thinks, behaves and interacts with other people, and it is important that men feel they are able to talk about how they are feeling with their family and also their GP.

The most common mental illnesses are anxiety and depressive disorders. Everyone experiences strong feelings of tension, fear, or sadness at times. However a mental illness is present when these feelings become so disturbing and overwhelming that people have great difficulty coping with day-to-day activities such as work, enjoying leisure time and maintaining relationships.

DEPRESSION

1 in 8 men will suffer from depression during their lifetime. Depression is more than a low mood. It is a serious illness that can need clinical treatment. Those with depression find it hard to function and it can have a serious affect on a person’s physical and mental health.

Factors which can contribute to depression in men:

Drug and alcohol consumption
Physical health problems
Relationship problems
Employment problems
Social isolation
Significant change in living arrangements (e.g. separation or divorce)

SUICIDE

In Australian the suicide rate for men is 4 times that of women.

Suicide and suicidal tendencies are still some of hardest issues to talk about socially. It can be easier to approach the subject by having a concrete idea of where men are most vulnerable and what triggers can often lead towards an attempt on ones life.

Some of the most vulnerable men are:

Those aged between 25-44, who have the highest rate of suicide.
Those who live in rural areas, who have a significantly higher suicide rate than the National average and are twice as likely to take their own life than those living in a major capital city.
Those who can be victim to discrimination, such as Aboriginal men, gay and bisexual men, and men from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Some of the most common triggers for suicide are the breakup of a relationship, debilitating physical illness or accident, death of someone close, a suicide of someone famous or from a peer group, or bullying or discrimination.

For more information or to talk to someone about any difficulties that you or someone close to you might be having in their life, please contact LIFELINE on 13 11 14 or at www.lifeline.org.au or contact Mensline Australia on 1300 78 99 8 or at www.menslineaus.org.au

ANXIETY

We all feel anxious from time to time, however for some people these anxious feelings are overwhelming and cannot be brought under control easily. An anxiety disorder is more than just feeling stressed – it’s a serious condition that makes it hard for the person to cope from day-to-day.

The symptoms of anxiety can include:

Feelings of apprehension and dread
Feelings of being tense or jumpy
Anticipation of the worse
Irritability
Restlessness
Nightmares
Feelings of being trapped
Heart palpitation
Shortness of breath
Feelings of obsession

Visit www.headspace.org.au if you're under 25 or www.beyondblue.org.au for more information