Tuesday June 10, 2025
Men’s Health Week (9 – 15 June) is a timely reminder to check in on the physical and mental wellbeing of the men in our lives. From managing stress and staying connected, to recognising the signs of cancer early; looking after your health is not just important, it’s a vital step in preventing serious issues before they get a head start.
Mental Health
For many men, reaching out for help can feel difficult. Pressures to be strong, stoic and self-reliant often discourage men from speaking up when they’re struggling.
Eastern Health Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Jonathan Starke notes how some coping mechanisms are often overlooked due to their general acceptance in day-to-day life.
“The same mental health issues that affect the broader population also affect men, though their frequency and prominence can vary by age group. We commonly see depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance use. While alcohol use is widely accepted in Australia, it can be a maladaptive coping mechanism for deeper issues like anxiety or trauma, leading to further consequences.
“Suicide is a major issue for men’s mental health in Australia and is the leading cause of death for men aged 15 to 44. It’s something many may not even be aware of. Often, struggles with mental health issues go unspoken and without support, men can head down a difficult path but adopting early intervention and creating the right environment for men to speak up, could change that outcome,” he said.
Dr Starke explains that men often struggle when they lose their role or status in society through job loss, separation, retirement or declining health. This may lead to isolation, reduced ability to contribute meaningfully. and a loss of identity.
Noticing even small changes in the behaviour of our loved ones or colleagues can be a powerful catalyst for early intervention and prevention.
“Look out for symptoms like persistent low mood, sleep disturbance, ruminative thoughts, and a loss of interest or motivation, especially when these last for weeks and affect daily life. It becomes more concerning when someone can no longer enjoy things they used to love, struggles to function at work or home, appearing more irritable and experiences low energy, libido, or appetite.
“When these challenges escalate, we see it as a serious warning sign that further support is needed,” Dr Starke said.
Support can include counselling, medication, harm reduction strategies and building social connections. Initiatives like the Men’s Shed, foster peer support through shared activities and safe, open conversations.
Dr Starke suggests consistent social contact builds trust and emotional openness and setting aside time for meaningful connection can be a powerful step toward better mental health.
“I think it’s important for men to know we do have feelings and can learn to navigate them better. Just because emotional expression hasn’t always been part of traditional masculinity, doesn’t mean it’s impossible; it’s simply underdeveloped. With support and practice, this can shift a lot. We’re not broken, we just haven’t been shown how.
“Mental health is something we each have a responsibility to nurture, and while there are common themes like social connection, purpose and feeling valued, but what works best is often very individual. It’s not about doing it all yourself but being willing to explore what keeps you mentally well, knowing there are supports and services around you,” he said.
Executive Clinical Director Turning Point, Prof Dan Lubman, also provides valuable insight into how anxiety attacks present in men in a co-authored article published on The Conversation.
“Men are around half as likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder compared to women. Some feel pressure to be fearless and hide their emotions. Others simply don’t understand or have the language to describe anxiety symptoms.
“This has serious consequences. Our latest research shows young men are turning to ambulance services when their symptoms become overwhelming – some even think they’re having a heart attack.”
Heart attack or panic attack? Why young men are calling ambulances for unmanaged anxiety.
Cancer
In Australia, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men, while prostate cancer remains the most diagnosed.
Eastern Health Clinical Services Director Cancer Services, Prof Phillip Parente, says bowel, skin and testicular cancers are also prevalent among men, sharing key symptoms to watch out for.
“For bowel cancer it’s important to notice if you have any changes in your bowel habits or blood in the stool. Symptoms of lung cancer can present as persistent cough, coughing up blood and unexplained weight loss.
“Changes in urinary habits, difficulty urinating, dribbling, waking at night to urinate frequently and bone pain, may indicate prostate cancer. Whilst feeling foreign lumps in the testicles is a sign to get checked for testicular cancer,” he said.
Prof Parente is also a big advocate for prevention, urging men to cut smoking, vaping and alcohol from their lives.
“Vaping is the new carcinogen. In many ways, it is equivalent to smoking. It’s important to adopt a healthy lifestyle, healthy eating and including more carbs, less fats, keeping a healthy weight and lot of fibre, which is for your colorectal health.
“Keep out of the sun and ‘slip, slop, slap’ and have regular checks with your GP at least yearly, especially from 40 years of age to do a melanoma skin check. Also consider a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and completing the bowel cancer screening. We need to normalise these screenings,” Prof Parente said.
In cases where men are diagnosed, survival rates are vastly improved if the cancers are detected early.
“For lung cancer, if caught at stage one, survival rates are around 80 to 90 percent. For stage two, they drop to about 60 to 70 percent and decline significantly after that. That’s why the new National Lung Cancer Screening Program aims to detect cancer early. Similarly, with prostate cancer, early detection through PSA testing, rectal examination, or symptom reporting leads to survival rates of 80 to 90 percent,” Prof Parente said.
General Wellbeing
The long-standing principle that ‘balance is key’ remains highly relevant when it comes to achieving a healthy work-life balance.
OHS, Emergency Management and Wellbeing Business Partner at Eastern Health, Alan Leenaerts, says looking inwardly and acknowledging where you’re at, is vital.
“You’ve got to prioritise yourself. The first step is recognising what’s within your control. There’s many ways to engage with your inner monologue whether it’s motivational videos or speaking to someone, support is available in many forms.
“If we’re not at our best, then we can’t be our best in helping the community,” he said.
Some of the more common workplace challenges for men Mr Leenaerts encounters includes feelings of stress and fatigue, especially for those in shift-based work.
“While routine provides stability and supports well-being, having some flexibility is also crucial to prevent boredom and burnout. I also think it’s important to get your mind and hands moving at the same time; whether that’s participating in social sports, knitting, cooking or any other activity that helps you expel some adrenaline or bring you calm,” he said.
Much like the preventative measures for cancer, Mr Leenaerts similarly suggests men should be aware of their alcohol intake, especially as a means to relax after a long day at work.
“Often people may have a drink at the end of the day to wind down but smoking and especially drinking contributes to poor quality sleep.
“While alcohol may help you fall asleep more quickly, it disrupts the deeper stages of sleep, often leaving you feeling tired and restless the next day. This can increase daytime irritability and lead to relying on less healthy options like caffeine or energy drinks to stay alert,” Mr Leenaerts said.
Check out these resources for more help and information:
Man Therapy® | Men’s Mental Health Resources
Free help, referrals & counselling for men: MensLine Australia
Movember – Men’s Health – Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
About – The Man Cave – Preventative mental health for teenage boys
Home | Mankind Project Australia
Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) – Join Our Community