Curtis Cavanagh
Author
PSYCHOLOGIST
Supporting Men to Speak Up and Seek Help
Men’s Health Week (June 9–15, 2025) is a national reminder of the importance of looking after men’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
This week is about changing the narrative surrounding men's health. It's about encouraging men to prioritise their wellbeing, break down stigma, and seek help early. Men are less likely than women to seek help early for health issues—especially when it comes to mental health. Around 1 in 8 men will experience depression, and suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for Australian males.
Whether you’re a health professional, a mate, or a family member, we all have a role to play in making it easier for men to reach out.
How do I Speak Up?
Small steps can lead to big changes in men’s health. Prioritising mental wellbeing, staying physically active, and reaching out for support are all signs of growth.
It can be hard to know when you need to reach out for help, and what does that even look like? Sometimes it feels as though we need to make a significant change or gesture to see a difference, but the small steps are often the most impactful. We’ve all seen the interaction between mates that starts with “how’re you going?” or “how’s things?” for the response to inevitably be “yeah, alright” or “you know, same old”. This interaction can be the starting point to changing the narrative around men's health, opening dialogue about your difficulties, or normalising that it’s okay to open up and seek support.
Next time you notice yourself in one of these interactions, try to use one of these in responses:
- “I’m okay, but feeling a bit off. Might be time I talked to someone about it.”
- “Struggling a bit with stress lately—it’s been building up more than I realised.”
- “I’ve been feeling pretty overwhelmed and trying to work to get on top of things.”
- “Actually, I booked a GP appointment to check in on how I’m going.”
- “I’ve been a bit off lately, but I’m talking to someone about it now and it’s helping.”
- “Things have been tough, but I’ve started making some changes—bit of exercise, bit of talking. Feels like a good move.”
How a Psychologist can Support Men in Practice
When supporting male clients, focus can be put on practical, goal-oriented strategies that align with how the client defines growth and purpose. A psychologist can explore roles and identity in a way that invites reflection, without shame, and linking this to the lessons that were installed by important male figures in your life.
A psychologist will normalise help-seeking by reinforcing that mental fitness is just as important as physical health. Seeing a psychologist for support with mental health is no different to seeing a doctor for a broken bone. Let’s keep the conversation going and if you or a friend needs additional support, please do not hesitate to contact us. To learn more about positive moves towards men's health, additional resources can be found at https://www.amhf.org.au/
Whether it’s booking a check-up or opening up to a mate, every action counts to breaking the stigma.