How Breaking The Masculinity Barrier Can Save The Men In Our Lives

Manifest Sydney is keen to raise awareness on the rising suicide rates and the stigma around the mental and emotional wellbeing of men. Co-Founded by former pro basketball player JuVan Langford and Mike Campbell (Founder of ‘Beyond the Beers’, the idea behind MENtours, the quarterly retreats for men and monthly workshops across the country, stems from their own battles with depression.

The statistics show the scale of the problem:

• 75% of suicides in Australia are men
• At age 25 years, male deaths are twice as common as female deaths
• Yet they’re also less likely to seek treatment
• 72% of Aussie males don’t seek help for mental ill-health
• 1 in 5 men experience anxiety

The recent Sydney event featured debates and information about new innovations and solutions to combat these issues. TV Chef Pete Evans, Editor in Chief of GQ Australia Michael Christensen and Clinical Psychologist Dr Jodie Lowinger were also among the speakers.

The larger issue at hand is the deep-rooted ideal that men cannot be depressed or suffer from anxiety, simply because they are men. The stigma that surrounds even discussing these issues has been made clear. The majority of suicides are from men, and still 72% are unwilling to go seek help. Why? Manifest Sydney asks all these questions, breaks down these barriers to masculinity, and rids the idea that men should be a certain way.

“Don’t you know that boys don’t cry?’ Adam grinned. 
‘Shall I tell you something I’ve only recently discovered,’ I replied, not attempting to hide the tears rolling down my face and not the least bit ashamed of them. ‘Boys don’t cry, but real men do.”

Quote from Malorie Blackman’s ‘Boys Don’t Cry’

For more information, visit manifetaus.com.