Male mental health matters
A collaboration between JewishCare and Mentoring Men aims to improve awareness and support for the mental wellbeing of men of all ages.
JEWISHCARE has formed a new partnership with Mentoring Men to improve awareness and support for the mental wellbeing of men of all ages through free, positive, and supportive male one-to-one life mentoring.
JewishCare CEO Gary Groves said, “The collaboration is being launched through a ‘Male Mental Health Matters’ campaign that aims to drive awareness of the benefits of mentoring on mental wellbeing, while also encouraging men to sign up to our ‘metwork’ as mentors or mentees.”
The mentoring program aims to provide the support local men need to achieve optimum mental wellbeing, defined by the World Health Organisation as “a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”
According to the latest Ten to Men: the Australian Longitudinal Study of Male Health Report, mental ill-health remains high among Australian men with up to 25 per cent experiencing a mental health disorder in their lifetime and 15 per cent experiencing a disorder every year.
With one in eight men experiencing depression and one in five experiencing anxiety, according to BeyondBlue, men are also less likely to seek help. When mental health is left untreated, it can spiral to a crisis where men unfortunately make up 76 per cent of all deaths by suicide each year, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures from 2020 reveal.
Mentoring Men CEO Simon Jarvis said, “Having trusted and valued relationships not only reduces the risk of poor mental health, but also helps people recover quicker when experiencing a mental health diagnosis.
“Mentoring programs not only help navigate life, work and relationship goals, this program also provides a friendly ear with a local male mentor who can provide support in decision making.”
The mentoring program makes a huge difference to the lives of those involved – both the mentee and mentor and strengthens our community.
Join the ‘metwork’ at mentoringmen.org.au/jewishcare
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