Plumbing Connection 3-2015

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P L UMB I N G CO N N E C T I O N S P R I N G 2 0 15 1 0 9
I n Australia this week, almost 50
people will die by suicide. Around 36
of these will be men.
The disparity between male and
female deaths by suicide is due to
men’s reluctance to seek support for
conditions like depression and anxiety.
They are too proud to ask for help, they
do not want to be seen as weak and they
don’t want to be a burden on others.
The fact that so many men die by
suicide, at a rate three times that of
women, is unacceptable and must change.
That is why beyondblue launched
Davo’s Man Therapy in June this year.
It is a campaign starring loveable
tradie Davo, who epitomises the typical
Aussie bloke with his down-to-earth
larrikin attitude.
But it is another one of his classic
Aussie traits, a no-nonsense approach,
that beyondblue thinks will do the
most good.
In television, radio and digital ads,
Davo tells men feeling down or stressed
out is nothing to be ashamed of and can
happen to anyone.
He urges men to visit his website at
if they’re
struggling and reminds them that they
owe it to themselves and their family to
get support.
The website has a Mind Quiz so men
can assess their wellbeing, plus more
information such as practical advice on
how to get support and tales of triumph
from men who overcame depression
and anxiety.
The website is not just for people
who are struggling though. It’s also got
advice on how to help a mate and tips on
how to give yourself the best chance to
stay mentally healthy.
The campaign follows the launch two
years ago of beyondblue’s successful
Man Therapy, which used another
fictional character, Dr Brian Ironwood, to
promote good mental health to men.
Davo’s Man Therapy was launched
to focus more on men who work in ‘blue-
collar’ jobs and has so far been
a success.
In the first month after launching, the
website attracted almost 30,000 unique
visitors which, given it’s targeted at a
niche audience, is a huge amount.
There is, however, still a long way to go.
The number of males who die by
suicide in Australia each year is almost
double the number killed on our roads
and suicide is the biggest killer of both
males and females aged between 15
and 44.
If you know someone who may be
struggling, don’t be afraid to have a
conversation with them about your
concerns. A conversation can make a
difference in helping someone feel less
alone and more supported, and for more
advice on how to broach what is often
a difficult topic visit www.beyondblue.
Alternatively, you
can visit the Man Therapy websites for
more information or pass them on to the
person you’re concerned about.
If you are struggling or feeling ‘a bit
off’ for an extended period of time, the
most manly thing you can do is to take
steps to get better.
Not only do you deserve to feel well,
you owe it your family and friends to
be as mentally and physically healthy
as possible.
Man Therapy can help you learn how
to tackle whatever it is that’s getting
you down and give you advice on how to
stay well.
People are often amazed at how much
better they feel once they’re on the road
to recovery, and wonder why they didn’t
do something about it sooner.
DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE
For a long time, mental health
issues among men has been
taboo. Now, beyondblue says
enough is enough - men should
no longer ignore what’s right in
front of their faces.
TIPS