Campaign targets male depression
A new campaign to combat depression and anxiety in men has been launched, aiming to reach out to men who may not feel comfortable with talking openly about their mental health.
Funded by the federal government and launched by mental health body Beyondblue, the ‘Man Therapy’ campaign was launched in state Parliament House on Wednesday by Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler, Beyondblue Chairman and former Premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett, Beyondblue CEO Kate Carnell and former AFL player Nathan Thompson.
Broadcast on television and radio with a large presence in print and social media, the campaign aims to improve men’s mental wellbeing and bring down the disproportionately high rate of young male suicide compared to women.
Suicide is the single largest cause of death for Australian men aged between 15 and 44, accounting for almost twice as many deaths in 2011 as road accidents according to ABS statistics.
The campaign will run from June until the end of the year.
