Beyond Men’s Mental Health Week: Checking in on Strength & Wellbeing
As June comes to an end, we’re offered an opportunity to take stock on Men’s Mental Health Week, and its important theme this year: ‘See your GP’. It’s a simple message, but one that holds real weight. With any other health concern, mental wellbeing deserves attention, maintenance, and support. Especially for men, that first check-in with a GP can be the quiet step toward clarity, strength, and longevity. However, too often that conversation is pushed aside with thoughts like, "I’m fine," "It’s not serious," or "Others have it worse." But strength, in its truest form, often starts with awareness.
Why The Conversation Still Matters:
1 in 8 men in Australia experience depression
1 in 5 live with anxiety
Men account for more than 75% of suicides.
These aren’t just data points. They represent colleagues, mates, sons, brothers, and partners. Behind each number is a story, often untold, of internal battles carried in silence.
Mental health is not a niche issue. It is a professional concern, a domestic issue, a leadership responsibility, and a human reality. Our mental wellbeing defines how we show up at work, how we parent, manage stress, and relate to others.
When ‘Doing Fine’ Masks Something Else
In society, men take roles that gain them praise for resilience, steadiness under pressure, and an ability to push through. There’s a risk here: conflating productivity with well-being. The reality is many men are high-functioning on the surface, while quietly contending with:
Increased irritability or short temper
Emotional withdrawal from mates or family
Restlessness or emotional numbness
Fatigue or unexplained physical pain
Overworking to avoid feeling
These signs rarely announce themselves loudly. They accumulate until one day, they get in the way.
The Beliefs Halting Strength:
Silent beliefs often shape how support is approached:
“If I’m showing up at work, I must be fine.”
“Real men don’t talk about this stuff.”
“It’ll pass on its own.”
These thoughts might feel familiar, but they’re not truths. Early intervention leads to significantly better outcomes. Mental health support isn’t a detour from responsibility - it’s a tool for showing up better, longer.
Investing in your wellbeing strengthens:
Thinking and decision-making
Energy and focus
Communication and leadership
Consistent sleep, mood, and physical health
Mental well-being is about staying ahead of the curve. The healthiest version of yourself starts with knowing when to check in.
Take Action: Support Starts Here
Whether you’re feeling stretched, stuck, or simply not yourself, consider taking a step today:
Speak to your GP for a Mental Health Care Plan
Book that EAP session
Speak with someone who gets it, before you hit a wall
Say, “I’m not doing great,” if it’s true
Whether you’re dealing with stress, burnout, relationships, or just feeling off, support is closer than you think.
A simple conversation can open the door to practical, professional support tailored to you. Use your Veretis EAP to access free, confidential support. Or start with your GP - Veretis supports private psychology sessions available for rebate under a Mental Health Care Plan.