Men’s Mental Health: Moving Beyond Silence
11 June 2025
This Men’s Health Week, we’re shining a light on something often hidden behind silence, sarcasm, or a shrug: the mental health of Australian men.
Despite growing awareness, many men continue to carry a silent burden, shaped by outdated ideas of masculinity, underdiagnosed conditions, and a lack of safe, stigma-free pathways into care. At Malu Health, we believe it’s time to change that.
The Silent Struggle
Men account for over three-quarters of suicide deaths in Australia. They’re also significantly less likely to access mental health support services, often waiting until crisis point before reaching out.
This isn’t due to a lack of feeling, but often a lack of permission. Many men grow up in environments where emotions are minimised, vulnerability is discouraged, and asking for help is seen as weakness.
Yet the pressure to “hold it all together”, at work, in relationships, as fathers, partners, and providers, can be immense.
Mental Health Doesn’t Always Look the Same in Men
A key challenge is that mental health symptoms in men often present differently from common stereotypes or awareness campaigns. For example:
Depression may look like irritability, anger, or withdrawal.
Anxiety may manifest as hyper-control, risk-taking, or physical complaints.
Trauma may appear as emotional numbing, disconnection, or even workaholism.
These behaviours are frequently minimised, by others, and by the men themselves. Understanding that such patterns can reflect internal struggle is the first step toward genuine
What Can Men Do?
Supporting your own mental health doesn’t require dramatic changes. Small, consistent actions matter:
Prioritise connection. Check in with a mate regularly, not just about sport or work, but about how things are really going.
Move your body. Exercise has a powerful impact on mood and stress regulation.
Track how you feel. Monitor your mood, sleep, and stress each week. Patterns can reveal a lot.
Cut back on alcohol. Drinking to cope may numb the symptoms but rarely addresses the cause.
Don’t wait for crisis. Early support, from a GP, counsellor, or psychologist, is often the most effective.
What Can Others Do?
Family, friends, and colleagues can play a vital role in supporting men’s mental health:
Notice changes and check in. A simple “You’ve seemed a bit off , want to talk about it?” can open the door.
Offer support, not solutions. Listening without judgment often matters more than giving advice.
Normalise help-seeking. Share stories of therapy or support in a positive, relatable way.
Create the right environment. Go for a walk, play a game, or grab a coffee, relaxed settings encourage openness.
Be patient. It may take time to feel safe enough to talk. A consistent, non-pressuring presence builds trust.
A New Approach to Men’s Health
At Malu Health, we’re committed to meeting men where they are, with care that is respectful, practical, and free from stigma. Mental health isn’t a weakness to fix. It’s a strength to build.
Real change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in workplaces, homes, friendships, and communities, when we all commit to making mental health a shared responsibility.
If you are in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.
