By Karen Dow
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November 14, 2019
My head was consumed by the upcoming weeks enormous to-do list, having just survived a hectic weekend of housework, driving the kids around and recovering from one too many wines watching the AFL grand final with friends. It suddenly dawned on me, that one of the important men in my life was showing signs of a decline in his wellbeing. But I’m a mental health professional. How did I fail to notice this? Simple - with all the stresses of our normal, daily lives, recognising the signs can be tricky. I thought how often this must be happening, and how important it is for us all to know the signs and risk factors, and know when to act. Quite often, men are carrying a burden of mental health issues that is hidden from our view. They tend to find it difficult to break the stigma of weakness that is far too often associated with depression or anxiety. Around the world, one man suicides every minute, and in Australia, males account for two-thirds of all suicides. Research in Australia has identified that men use different coping strategies than women to mitigate negative feelings associated with mental health. A few of these strategies include humour, keeping themselves busy, exercising, eating healthy, helping others and being goal focused. However, sometimes these strategies fail, so it’s important we know the signs to look for that indicate the much loved male in our lives may be battling depression or anxiety. These emotions may emerge as restlessness or lack of interest in daily activities, changes in weight or sleep patterns, feelings of worthlessness or agitation, a difficulty in concentration or the ability to control their worry. Research has also identified that even though depression is a key factor in male suicide, it is not the major reason. Men are more likely to attempt suicide after difficult life events, particularly the Three D’s - death, divorce and debt. If any of these events occur 4 tips maybe helpful: Attend to the signs of mental health decline by knowing the signs. Ask them if they are OK? Accept and listen to their experience. Aid them to make a connection with others such as professional, friends or even a phone counselor. If you, or anyone you know are experiencing any issues with anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, please visit the Beyond Blue Movember website, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or the Suicide Call Back service on 1300 659 467. Note: this article was originally published in Oasis Magazine . You can download the PDF version here .