Breaking the Silence: Men's Mental Health Crisis in Australia and the Urgent Need for Change

While the climate around mental health awareness is forever changing, there is still seeing one common occurrence: men taking their own lives.

A recent report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found 3144 deaths in Australia were from suicide, while 3 in 4 were men, leading it to be in the top leading causes of death.

While people is that men don’t talk about what’s going on in their lives, their stresses, or their struggles - while in 2023 we are trying to break stereotypes, there’s one which people can’t seem to break: “a man is weak if they open up.”

Men’s physiotherapist and health expert Dr Jo Milios said that men are more reluctant to seek preventative health measures, only addressing these issues when they get to a point of crisis.

“Culturally, men are less likely to ask for help,” Dr Milios said.

“Men often gauge their self-esteem and masculinity based on their strength and their physical well-being.

“So, when they break down physically, they immediately feel mentally challenged, and the more broken they become physically, the same occurs emotionally.”

Multiple factors are causing the increase in suicides in Australia, including social isolation, financial pressure, and a change in relationships including separation and divorce.

“We have a huge social crisis on our hands to try and understand why we are failing looking after boys and men,” said Dr Milios.

More men are starting to talk about their mental health, with the generational change which is showing the young generations are standing up and saying not speaking isn’t a healthy mindset.

“Older generations have always thought they couldn’t speak up while also being told to shut up and get on with it, not to complain, not to cry, just to keep working and suffer through it.” said Dr Milios

Influential sportspeople such as 2016 Western Bulldogs premiership player Tom Boyd, former Kangaroo and Demon Majak Daw and 1996 and ’99 premiership roo Wayne Schwass have started an ongoing trend that is getting more men to begin the conversation.

“What happens when a sporting identity is open and honest about their story, it makes it real for the everyday guy and helps to normalise having a period of down time in life.” Said Dr Milios

Over the last 10 years, Australian men have come a long way, changing and recognising the change required to get men not to be ashamed to have mental health issues.

If you are suffering from mental health issues a wish to talk to someone, contact Lifeline at 131 114, or MensLine on 1300 789 978 - if you want help seek help there is always someone wanting to talk.