Western Australia Minister for Mental Health Roger Cook

Improving Mental Health And Wellbeing For Western Australians

Victor P Taffa

• Sports presenters unite in a new mental health campaign targeting men
• Think Mental Health focus on males aged 25-54
• Blokes urged to check in on a mate

If rival sport presenters Adrian Barich and Tim Gossage can take time out to check in on each other, so can you.

Both media personalities have teamed up to help improve men’s mental health.

“McGowan Government wants to see more people leading well-rounded lives, both mentally and physically, to give and get the best out of life.” Minister for Mental Health Roger Cook said.

“As we move into 2019, we want to see more Western Australians look after their mental health and wellbeing and those of others.”

A new burst of the State-wide Think Mental Health campaign runs from the start of January to February 23 to spread the important mental health message of ‘check in on a mate’ and ‘talking and listening is powerful.’

Campaign targets men aged 25-54 living in Western Australia and their family and friends with the messages to check in on a mate or someone you care about if they are not going so well, talking and listening are powerful and that mental health issues can affect anyone.

2018 evaluation of the long running campaign has shown the program has delivered impressive results, with 45 % of all males aged 25-54 who saw the campaign taking action to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Men currently account for 3 out of 4 deaths by suicide. The campaign results show males who saw the campaign were significantly more likely to have spoken about their mental health needs with a family member, friend or professional than those who had not.