The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to support the wellbeing of the people of New South Wales, and destigmatise conversations about mental health, particularly for men, with the inaugural Men\u2019s Mental Health Forum being held today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The landmark Forum, hosted at New South Wales Parliament, will bring together mental health advocates, experts and those with a lived experience of mental illness, with the aim of raising awareness of men\u2019s mental health, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, and working towards lowering men\u2019s suicide rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New South Wales accounts for the most male deaths by suicide in Australia. In 2023 alone, there were 934 suspected deaths by suicide in New South Wales, with men accounting for 78 per cent of these tragedies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lead by Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson and in partnership with with the Movember Institute of Men\u2019s Health, the event will include high profile advocates for men\u2019s mental health, Rugby League legend Greg Inglis and former Australian cricketer and MAFS star, Cam Merchant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event will be facilitated by Dr Zac Seidler, Movember Men’s Health Research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Forum will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This event follows the announcement that the NSW Government is working to deliver landmark whole of government suicide prevention legislation within this term of Parliament, with the process of consultation with people with lived and living experiences of suicidal distress beginning in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you, or someone you know, is in a life-threatening situation please seek help immediately by calling Triple Zero (000). For those contemplating suicide or experiencing severe distress, the following helplines are available 24\/7:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lifeline:<\/strong> 13 11 14<\/a> Additionally, the NSW Mental Health Line<\/strong>(<\/strong>1800 011 511<\/a>)<\/strong> offers round-the-clock advice on accessing local specialist mental health services. The NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 is a 24\/7 service that can advise you on appropriate local specialist mental health services for you or a loved one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnsuring people who are experiencing mental health distress have access to services when they need them most is a priority for the NSW Government. Despite high levels of need for men, we know it can be especially difficult for them to ask for help when they need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday we are taking an important step along the journey to addressing male suicide and mental ill health and this groundbreaking event will help guide our work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is vital that we continue to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and ensure that every man in NSW knows that help is available, and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Together, we can make a meaningful difference and save lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Professor Simon Rice, Global Director of the Movember Men\u2019s Health Institute:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAddressing men\u2019s health is critically important because suicide remains the leading cause of death among Australian men aged 15-44 years, and the third leading cause of premature death among Australian men of any age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Movember Institute of Men\u2019s Health is dedicated to bridging the gap between the health sector and government, advocating for tailored support for men and ensuring that their needs are met. Contrary to the misconception that men are reluctant to seek help, our latest Real Face of Men\u2019s Health Report reveals that many do seek care but often fall through the cracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOver 50 per cent of Australian men who die by suicide each year had prior contact with a mental health provider, highlighting a significant gap in targeted support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrograms like Men in Mind are crucial\u2014they offer a world-first approach to training therapists, equipping them with the skills to engage and respond to men\u2019s unique needs effectively. By advancing these initiatives, we are working to ensure that men receive the comprehensive support they need, when they need it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg Inglis:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs someone who has faced my own battles with mental health, I know firsthand the importance of having open, honest conversations about our struggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis Forum is a crucial step in breaking down the barriers that prevent men from seeking the help they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope from today we can change the narrative around men\u2019s mental health and ensure that no one has to suffer in silence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cameron Merchant:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Mental health is a journey we all navigate, and it\u2019s something I myself have had challenges with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s crucial that men feel empowered to speak up and seek help when needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBy coming together at this Forum today, it gives us another chance to open up another conversation and break the stigma, so people feel comfortable about talking about their struggles, their story and to be able to normalise the conversation about mental health. Ultimately working towards a future where nobody worries alone.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to support the wellbeing of the people of New South Wales, and destigmatise conversations about mental health, particularly for men, with the inaugural Men\u2019s Mental Health Forum being held today. The landmark Forum, hosted at New South Wales Parliament, will bring together mental health advocates, experts and those … Continue reading “Forum to shine a spotlight on men\u2019s mental health”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nswnews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28260"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28261,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28260\/revisions\/28261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
13 YARN:<\/strong> 13 92 76<\/a>
Beyond Blue:<\/strong>1300 224 636<\/a>
Suicide Call Back Service:<\/strong>1300 659 467<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n