60 Minutes recently ran a story on the rise of young men taking their own lives. Many of whom were involved in sports communities. Tragically, suicide among men is at all-time highs with 6 men taking their lives each day in Australia.
As chaplains we have a very important role to play. We are the safe, trusted friend who is ever ready to listen to their pain.
A number of the key points raised in the following set of videos are:
- Young men have a stigma towards getting help
- Aussies don’t want professional “white-coat” help
- Shame is overwhelming young men
- The depression faced after a sudden loss (e.g., relationship breakup) is still prevalent
- Young men mask over their pain, refusing to let other know, seeing that as weakness
- The Australian mental health care system is failing young males
- “ENGAGEMENT” is the key word in these videos
- Engaging, trusted people, friends, family is what’s needed
- We must go to them, ‘intentional caring people’ is a key strategy
- Q? How does the community sustain such a model of ‘intentional caring people’?
- Q? Where are the dads / fathers / men in young men’s lives?
From the 60 Minutes website:
Everyone who met 25-year-old Jake Fitzsimmons thought he was a great bloke. He was a local footy hero, had a decent job and plenty of friends. But Jake was keeping a heartbreaking secret from his mates, and one day late last year the depression he suffered became too much to bear, and he took his own life. Suicide by young men is rarely talked about so we have yet to properly comprehend its tragic scale. This week the CEO of Lifeline said Australia was in the middle of a “national suicide emergency” and that deaths were at a ten-year high. On average six men take their own lives every day, and for the sake of all the Jake Fitzsimmons in this country, we must do more to help and support those who are vulnerable.
Watch full video here – https://www.9now.com.au/60-minutes/2017/clip-cizwa6x8m005s0hmpk7sgcfvs
Related videos
- 60 Minutes 2017 Jake Edwards opens up on his story of suicide survival
