This article discusses suicide. If you or someone close to you is experiencing an emergency, or is at immediate risk of harm, call triple zero (000). To talk to someone now, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or MensLine on 1300 78 99 78.
Dr Andrew Rochford: Why we need to ditch the silence to support men’s mental health
ARTICLE
01 June 2024
4 min read
4 min read
According to Beyond Blue, one in seven Australian men will have depression at some point in their life . Friend of AIA Dr Andrew Rochford shares his insights on men’s mental health in Australia – and explains why he works to cut through the stigma and treat it as a mainstream clinical condition.
When we’ve broken a bone or injured ourselves, or we start to lose our sight as we age, it’s natural that we recognise that, physically, something isn’t working properly and we need to do something about it.
We go to a healthcare professional, get a diagnosis, follow a treatment plan, and get back to functioning as well as we should. We don’t judge it or think twice about it; that’s just humans and physical health.
Mental health problems also involve a decreased function of something we don’t control. But the problem is that mental health – particularly men’s – has historically lagged when it comes to being clinically recognised in the same way that physical conditions are.
As men, we have a common tendency to sideline mental wellbeing, attributing emotional distress to mere stress, a rough patch, a bad day, or something to ‘shake off’. Yet, when mental health issues begin to persistently disrupt our daily lives, akin to how physical ailments might impair our mobility or vision, it’s a clear signal something is not functioning the way it should.
For me, the most concerning statistic about the state of men’s mental health in Australia is that between the ages of 15 and 44, the leading cause of death for men is suicide1. During these pivotal years, young men navigate crucial life decisions, choosing career paths, finding their feet in relationships, planning a family, or even changing paths in the middle of their careers. The fact that the primary cause of death among this group is suicide is both alarming and profoundly tragic.
Health is never black and white. But when we see a population-based trend moving in a direction for the worse2, we need to pay attention.
We all have our own limits
Everybody has a mental health threshold.
Each of us has underlying biological and genetic factors that define how we individually manage stressful situations and maintain our mental wellbeing. And a mix of factors, like early life experiences and external stressors – triggers including financial stress, the loss of a job, losing a loved one, a relationship breaking down – can all push you towards your threshold.
Not everyone hits their threshold for the same reasons, and it doesn’t necessarily lead to mental illness. This diversity means that while some individuals may be more vulnerable to mental health issues, others appear to navigate life’s stresses with greater ease. It’s a reminder of the unique thresholds we each have when it comes to our psychological wellbeing.
Consider the analogy of running a marathon: while some participants cross the finish line relatively unscathed, they have nonetheless endured the same physical strain as others. For certain individuals, pre-existing physical conditions may elevate their risk of encountering complications such as muscle strains, asthma attacks, or even heart issues. Similarly, mental health resilience and risks vary from person to person, underlining the importance of acknowledging and addressing individual vulnerabilities.
How you reach your tipping point can be affected by things you do not control – but what you can control is how you support your mental health before you reach it.
It’s time to change our conversations
“Mental health is a weakness.”
“I’ve just got to man up and get over it.”
“She’ll be right.”
When your mate has a broken leg, you might jokingly say, “Come on, mate – keep up,” but you don’t mean it. You know there’s a reason he’s slow and it’s natural to offer support while he recovers.
Similarly, when it comes to mental health, we need to change our approach and how we talk about it – to ourselves and to each other.
I went through a tough patch in my life not that long ago. I always thought of myself as having a pretty high threshold, but I had reached mine. And even though I’m medically trained, I still did the opposite of what I should have done. I knew how much I was struggling but an unhelpful mix of pride and masculinity made me less willing to be vulnerable and to silently internalise my difficulties.
If we’re going to change the statistics around men’s mental health and suicide, we need to be better at approaching the challenge of men’s mental health with zero judgement. Life isn’t a smooth road – there will always be bumps along the way. And as we navigate life’s unavoidable challenges, it’s crucial to acknowledge when we’re facing hardships that surpass the ordinary, when our usual coping mechanisms falter. Embracing openness and willingness to discuss these moments is essential.
Recognition is the first step
When you break your leg, instinctively, your brain signals to you to avoid putting weight on it and to seek help and then use support, like crutches, while it heals. The complex nature of mental health lies in the fact that when it’s compromised, the very organ required to navigate these challenges – the brain – is the one impaired. This creates a significant barrier in discerning whether we’re merely experiencing temporary distress or confronting issues that warrant professional diagnosis and intervention.
To help, there are well-accepted signs of mental illness1. These include:
- altered sleeping patterns – for some this will be more than usual, and for others, less
- a change in eating – both overeating or, for some, eating less than usual
- reduced motivation for self-care – not showering, brushing teeth, or styling hair
- avoiding social situations or missing events
- having difficulty finding joy in the things you used to
- going quiet on social media or not replying to messages
- seeming angry or easily irritable
- acting out recklessly.
Whether it’s for yourself or for a friend, a colleague, a partner, or a brother, being able and willing to recognise that something’s wrong – that I’m actually not at my best, that something’s changed, I’m not myself – is the first crucial step to managing the situation and changing the conversation.
Know your people – and become someone else’s
When you think about it, you likely have people in mind for all kinds of situations when you’ll need help. Who’s the mate you’ll call at 3am if you’re thrown out of the pub and can’t find a taxi? Who do you ring when you break down on the highway? Which physio do you book in with when your lower back pain flares up?
What about when you need to say, “Actually, I’m not okay”?
Whether it’s your partner, two of your best friends, or a healthcare worker, you need to know who you will be able to really open up to during a hard point. Even if you’re just having a bad day, a quick chat over a coffee can bring a whole lot of wellbeing benefits.
We also need more men to say they’ll be those men. Embracing and encouraging a warm, compassionate openness in our male relationships – instead of the traditional, often-superficial brotherhood where we don’t say that we love each other – is crucial during our vulnerable moments.
Even if your mate is having one rough day, you will never regret asking if he’s okay.
We’re not superhuman – we just need to be human
If there’s anything I’ve learnt from the clinical science around mental illness, it’s that it’s not only a medical problem – it’s a human problem. And we can’t treat it without understanding how important the human part is.
As an individual, embracing the human side of men’s mental health means understanding that you are not superhuman. You’re vulnerable and you are not impervious to the stressors that affect your mental health threshold.
As a community, being human lets us approach men’s mental health with compassion and kindness. It helps us create safe spaces for ourselves and our loved ones where we can simply say, “I need some help.” We know that with conditions like prostate cancer, surveillance can change the face of the disease – so by accepting the vulnerable, emotional nature of mental health, facilitating open communication, and learning more about the early signs, we can improve its surveillance and early detection.
Health is universally shared by every single one of us. If I were at a picnic and someone had a rash on their arm, there is a good chance everyone at the picnic would have a guess at the type of rash, a bit of advice to share, a treatment to recommend. Wouldn’t it be great if men’s mental health reached the same level of openness – where everyone was willing to offer their own personal scale of knowledge to share. We just need to be open and willing to do it.
If you or someone close to you is experiencing an emergency, or is at immediate risk of harm, call triple zero (000). To talk to someone now, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or MensLine on 1300 78 99 78.
Footnotes
Dr Andrew Rochford BMedSc MBBS (Hons) Doctor, Medical Executive and Media Personality
Dr Andrew Rochford is an Australian Emergency Doctor, Medical Executive, Author and Media Personality. Andrew has developed a unique and diverse portfolio of expertise. He has combined his medical training with communication and an entrepreneurial skillset to drive his passion for generating change in healthcare across the globe.
Disclaimer:
Copyright © 2024 AIA Australia Limited (ABN 79 004 837 861 AFSL 230043). This is general information only, without taking into account factors like the objectives, financial situation, needs or personal circumstances of any individual and is not intended to be financial, legal, tax, medical, nutritional, health, fitness or other advice. The source information of the articles is current as of the date of publication and may be subject to change. While the information contained herein is believed to be accurate, AIA Australia expressly disclaims any and all liability for representations or warranties, expressed or implied, contained in, or for omissions from, the information.
Copyright © 2024 AIA Australia Limited (ABN 79 004 837 861 AFSL 230043). This is general information only, without taking into account factors like the objectives, financial situation, needs or personal circumstances of any individual and is not intended to be financial, legal, tax, medical, nutritional, health, fitness or other advice. The source information of the articles is current as of the date of publication and may be subject to change. While the information contained herein is believed to be accurate, AIA Australia expressly disclaims any and all liability for representations or warranties, expressed or implied, contained in, or for omissions from, the information.
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