27 Nov 2018
According to Lifeline, three times as many Australian men die by suicide than women. In 2017, there were (on average) 41 male deaths by suicide each week. That's six in a day, or one every four hours.
BeyondBlue's former chairman Jeff Kennett states, "Sons, fathers and mates, who thought the world would be a better place without them, died because they didn't know how to ask for support when they needed it most. "
Australian men are not good at dealing with poor mental health because of the stereotype of the 'typical male identity: tough, stoic, stubborn & strong'. To admit we have a problem is to emasculate us.
With this in mind, as a team, TJHS would like to raise awareness for and start a conversation around men's mental health: suicide prevention and prostate and testicular cancer with the hope that the small visibility we have here at school will encourage our students to challenge these stereotypes and to take the conversation home to their parents, relatives and friends. All of our students are encouraged to C.A.R.E and we believe that these small conversations can make a huge difference in the lives of others.