‎03-11-2023 09:54 AM
‎03-11-2023 09:54 AM
Calling all men and loved ones of men! On Tuesday 28th November, we’d like to invite you to join us for a conversation about men’s mental health, with SANE Peer Mentor.
 
The event start times across Australia are below:
WA: 2:30pm
NT: 4:00pm
SA: 5:00pm
QLD: 4:30pm
NSW, ACT, VIC & TAS: 5:30pm
Want to receive a reminder on the night? Hit the 'Support' button below and we will tag you 30 minutes before the event starts.
New to the forums or want to get involved in this discussion? Check out the How To Guide for Topic Tuesdays.
Hope to see you there in the chat on the night!
‎28-11-2023 05:15 PM
‎28-11-2023 05:15 PM
Hey everyone!
The discussion will be kicking off in15 minutes on this thread! To come along, please refresh this page at 5:30pm and join the conversation.
In this discussion we will be talking about:
We can’t wait to see you there at 5:30pm! 😊
Tagging those that have interacted with the post/ or that are online right now and might like to join the discussion: @chibam @StanD @Sophia1 @anon28 @Healandlove @MzUnique1 @Spicy_Squirrel @Bill16 @Ceejay_ @Dimity @FightingForYout @Oaktree @Meowmy @SmilingGecko @Snowie @StuF @creative_writer @deshift
‎28-11-2023 05:30 PM
‎28-11-2023 05:30 PM
Welcome to everyone joining us or reading along tonight!
Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the various different lands across Australia that we are joining this discussion from tonight. We pay respect to the elders of those communities (past and present) and further extend that respect to any other Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people with us tonight or reading back through the thread.
Tonight, we are joined with SANE Peer Mentor @Bon_courage for an empowering discussion on Men’s Mental Health.
To get us started, I invite @Bon_courage to introduce himself. Let’s get this discussion started! Everyone is welcome here & thank you for joining us! 😊
‎28-11-2023 05:31 PM
‎28-11-2023 05:31 PM
Hello All. My name is Dean. My pronouns are he/him. I’m 53-years-old and I am a father of two daughters. I’m a Peer Mentor here at SANE. I have previously worked as Senior Peer with South-West Sydney LHD – with NSW Health as part of their Towards Zero Suicides Program. I worked in an outreach unit called SPOT & and an inbound crisis centre called Safe Haven. I’ll tell you more about it later in this segment. I have Lived Experience of suicidal crisis in the context of a relationship breakdown.
I am passionate about Men’s Mental Health because I live and breathe some of the struggles that many Men feel. Can I unequivocally state that I’m NOT the expert here. We all have our own individual experience. And no situation is alike. What I feel I can bring to the conversation is some first-hand experience working on the front line of Suicide prevention, my own lived experience and several years of Peer work experience supporting people experiencing mental health challenges.
In the course of my peer practice, I have had the privilege to connect and collaborate with many services specifically tackling Men's mental Health. I find this space motivating and meaningful. This, I feel, is my little bit. In my role as a Peer, I always practise from a person-centred perspective, providing the people I support with a safe space, unconditional positive regard and an opportunity for self-discovery. 
‎28-11-2023 05:40 PM
‎28-11-2023 05:40 PM
Time for our first question of the night for @Bon_courage
Tell us a little bit about men’s mental health! Why is it important that men reach out for support?
‎28-11-2023 05:42 PM
‎28-11-2023 05:42 PM
Thanks for the question......I may start here with some sobering numbers and patterns to reflect on.
Why is it important? because while we may think that we can or should tough it out, that we should behave like we’re invincible; we are simply human. We have physical and emotional needs. Our emotional needs, often neglected or even suppressed, are just as important. Like all humans we thrive when connected. Isolating ourselves is not a long-term strategy.
‎28-11-2023 05:47 PM
‎28-11-2023 05:47 PM
@Bon_courage, so do you think it's more a case of "men being the problem" - of them being infected with a stubbornness that needs to be cured? Or is it more a case that the act of help-seeking (under currant conditions) isn't a productive course of action? I've been of the impression that it's more the latter then the former.
‎28-11-2023 05:48 PM
‎28-11-2023 05:48 PM
I really like this @Bon_courage- it's a really important reminder!
@Bon_courage wrote:
we may think that we can or should tough it out, that we should behave like we’re invincible; we are simply human. We have physical and emotional needs. Our emotional needs, often neglected or even suppressed, are just as important. Like all humans we thrive when connected. Isolating ourselves is not a long-term strategy.
‎28-11-2023 05:50 PM
‎28-11-2023 05:50 PM
@chibam Thanks for asking the question. My take is not so much men being the problem but recognising different strategies and opportunities to offer support in the mental health space can achieve different results.
‎28-11-2023 05:51 PM
‎28-11-2023 05:51 PM
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
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SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
SANE is a public company limited by guarantee and registered tax-exempt charity with DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) status.
Charity ABN 92 006 533 606. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. SANE, PO Box 1226, Carlton VIC 3053.