01/12/2025
Today is December 1st and that means Movember is over for another year.
But the need for Movember continues today, next week, next month and every month through to Movember 2026 and beyond.
- Last year the dollar value of mental health related insurance payments was double that of 5 years ago.
- Over the last decade the number of mental health related claims for the 30-39 age group rose by a staggering 730%
(Stats are for TPD, male & female, provided by Council of Australian Life Insurers)
Personally, it's been a massive couple of weeks. A fortnight ago I passed a final exam to be qualified with the Tax Practitioners Board to give tax advice and then a couple of days later assisting Carlos Duque with Mo Miles, raising nearly $20,000, awareness and lots of positive energy for Movember.
Last Friday I was at Kosciuszko crewing for Simon Davidson as he ran 100klms through the mountains (he finished in the top 30 out of 1,000+ competitors and only 14mths after completing chemotherapy đź‘Ź). The next day I was back in Newcastle, on stage at Town Hall & speaking about mental health. This was at the launch of a documentary about one mans run from Newcastle to Sydney and return to support the Black Dog Institute.
I don't want to give the impression I'm qualified to advise on mental health - I'm definitely not. But it is something I have some experience, passion and thoughts on. So as we finish up Movember 2025 I'd like to share a few things please.
Mental health can involve needing medication, various types of counselling, hospitalisation. It can mean feeling anything from being a little bit down, isolated, crying, helpless, completely overwhelmed, suicidal thoughts. It can be impacting the happiest, most positive person you know because they've become an expert at putting up a facade.
Mental health needs more empathy. Not sympathy or pity and definitely not apathy, indifference or mocking.
If someone is talking to you about mental health issues:
1. Listen without advice - unsolicited advice that is. Avoid telling them what they should do.
2. Listen without judgement - focus on understanding, not evaluating. You may not feel as you're judging, but the other person may feel like they're being judged.
3. Listen with intent - give your full attention, eye contact, no distractions, listen for clues to see if they are reaching out for help.
4. Listen with vulnerability - share your own experiences when appropriate to help them feel less alone.
