Men give their tips on staying connected

This year's theme is ‘Connecting’, so we asked four of our Ambassadors to tell us what they do to stay healthy, how they connect with the men in their lives and how they approach having an “Are you OK?” conversation - not only during Men’s Health Week, but year round.

• How do you and your mates look out for one another?
  

"My mates have supported me through thick and thin. They have given me space when I need it, messaged when they haven’t heard from me for a while and generally called and connected when I appeared out of character." – Will Stewart

"By talking and being open with one another. I feel if I start the conversation, it opens the door for my mates. I have a great group of friends and although we are busy, we are on the phone a lot." – Beau Ryan

"I check in on my mates from time to time just to see how they are going. If they need a listening ear, I invite them for a coffee, or they come along on one of my many hikes where they are free to talk without judgement." – Chris Savill

"We aren’t afraid to be real with each other. Being there for a mate doesn’t have to be this big daunting thing. Just keeping the lines of communication open is so reassuring and healthy. It lets us know that no matter what we’re going through, we’re not alone." – Barry Conrad

• How do/can you look out for a man you think could be struggling?
  

"It can be as simple as asking, “Hey man, how are you? You doing okay?”. That might seem too simple, but it’s actually so powerful. If you find that you can’t do any more to help them, encourage them to visit ruok.org.au/findhelp. And if they need immediate help, point them to services like Lifeline, Beyond Blue and MensLine Australia." – Barry Conrad

"Follow R U OK?'s 4 steps to a healthy conversation. Ask a man in your life, 'are you OK?' Listen, without judgement, encourage them to take action and then check in to see how they are doing ."- Chris Savill

"Be honest with them. I share feelings and be vulnerable with them. We all have bad days and times when we are struggling. But by reaching out and sharing my struggles, I find it gives my mates strength to talk about theirs. We are all in this together and when they know that they have support, it could change their life." – Beau Ryan

"Checking in via a call, email, text or other can really make the difference. Feeling connected when one is down, despite not wanting to talk really helps. Heading out for a run or cycle and opening up a conversation can really support someone struggling. If they like exercise. Others may prefer a bite to eat and a chin wag. If you make the other person feel comfortable and safe, that’s what matters." – Will Stewart

• Why is mental health important to you as a man?

"Even though we’ve come a long way in shining a light on men’s mental health, there’s still so much stigma around it. A lot of men are conditioned to believe that vulnerability equals weakness, and it only makes men feel unsafe to be themselves. 75% of people in Australia who take their own lives are actually men, which says a lot." – Barry Conrad

"Managing one’s mental health, be it through exercise, medication, nutrition or otherwise is extremely important. While men are opening up more, I still see closed books amongst friends and peers, but it’s getting better." – Will Stewart

• How do you stay healthy?

"I train a lot. But the key for me is family time. That’s when I’m happiest and most fulfilled. Spending valuable time with them." – Beau Ryan

"I’m really big on setting my mind first thing in the morning. That means not reaching for my phone right away, mindlessly scrolling and filling my mind with meaningless content." – Barry Conrad

If you are concerned about someone, trust your gut and ask “Are you OK?”. Listen with an open mind to what they have to say and ask them what you can do to help. 

For more detailed information about the signs someone might be struggling and how to have an R U OK? conversation visit our How to Ask page.

If a conversation is too big for you or you need additional support, visit our Find Help page.