Men's Mental Health and Men's Talk WA

Men’s Mental Health & The Hidden Crisis Facing Aussie Blokes | Jevyn Myers

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About this episode

Men’s mental health is something a lot of blokes in the trades don’t talk about until they have to. In Australia, seven men die by suicide every day, and tradies are nine times more likely to die by suicide than from a workplace accident. Men’s Talk, a men’s health promotion charity based in Western Australia, is working to change that by getting men connected and talking early.

In Episode 6 of Unlocking Business, I sit down with Jevyn Myers from Men’s Talk. We talk about why men are less likely to ask for help, why WA and regional Australia are hit hardest, the warning signs that are easy to miss, and what Men’s Talk does differently with free, non-clinical drop-in centres, mentoring programs and a mobile outreach van called Monty the Man Van.

If you’re a bloke who has been drifting away from people without really noticing, or you want to know how to check in on a friend, this one is for you.

Who is Jevyn Myers?

Jevyn works with Men’s Talk, a WA charity focused on men’s health promotion. Its approach is casual rather than clinical: drop-in centres where men can turn up and talk, free mentoring, a school mentoring program called Gen Connect, free mental health first aid courses, and outreach that takes support out to the community. In the episode Jevyn also shares what personally drew him to working in men’s mental health.

Key takeaways from my conversation with Jevyn

1. Connection is the foundation

A big part of our chat is about community. Sporting clubs, gyms, church groups, gaming communities and simply having friends outside of home all give men somewhere to belong. We compare that kind of real connection with what social media offers, and talk about online role models and the so-called manosphere.

2. Know the life changes that put men at risk

Isolation, divorce and job loss come up as warning signs. Jevyn also points to retirees and men changing careers as groups that can lose their sense of purpose and their social circle at the same time, and we talk about what men can do to stay connected when work stops.

3. “She’ll be right” has a cost in the trades

Men are around 50% less likely to seek help than women. In mining, FIFO and the trades, the “she’ll be right” culture can make it even harder to speak up. For anyone running a trade business, that is worth thinking about for your team as much as for yourself.

4. Busy doesn’t mean connected

We get into the reality of balancing young kids and a busy business while your friendship circle quietly shrinks. Men need an outlet outside of home and family, even when life feels too full for it.

5. Help is free and you don’t need to be in crisis

Every Men’s Talk service is free, and you don’t need a reason to walk in. Their focus is prevention and early intervention, catching men before things get too heavy. When someone needs more, Men’s Talk works alongside psychologists and escalates to professional support.

6. Starting the conversation matters most

Near the end, Jevyn talks through how to start a conversation with a friend you’re worried about, how to refer someone to Men’s Talk, and how to get a spot in one of their free mental health first aid courses.

Monty the Man Van and why I opened up too

One of the things that makes Men’s Talk different is Monty the Man Van, a mobile outreach van that takes support out to where men are, rather than waiting for them to find it. Jevyn explains how it works.

This episode also got personal for me. I talk about an injury that pulled me away from sport and left me isolated, and what brought me back. I also open up about the stress of running a business with two young kids, and how I got through losing $2.2 million in one financial year. I’m sharing it because I know plenty of business owners carry that kind of pressure on their own.

Where to find Men’s Talk

Men’s Talk runs free drop-in centres, mentoring and mental health first aid courses in WA. You can also support their work or refer someone you’re worried about.