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Promoting healthy habits: Men's Health Week 2023
It’s Men’s Health Week, a time to highlight the importance of the health and wellbeing challenges facing the men in our lives.
This year’s theme is Healthy Habits and reinforces how small changes to our lifestyles can make a big difference to our physical and mental wellbeing.
On average, male life expectancy is four years shorter, and they are more likely to suffer from lifestyle-related health conditions than women of the same age.
On top of this, 70 per cent of all suicide in Queensland are male, as two-thirds of men in crisis do not feel confident or empowered enough to seek help.
selectability’s Well Man program is designed for men and provides practical strategies and tips to implement small changes for major health gains!
Well Man
Are you a modern man wanting to make changes in your life but have no idea where to start?
Look no further than the selectability initiative – Well Man.
The Well Man program highlights the information, strategies, inspiration, practical tips and life skills gathered to help improve the wellbeing and prevent the suicide of men.
Championed by founder, Grant Westthorp, Well Man has contributed significantly to the health and wellbeing of men in Australia and specifically regional Queensland for over 15 years.
Suicide Prevention Program manager and Well Man Ambassador, Bryn Hicks says that non clinical strategies like Well Man encourage men to take control of their mental wellbeing.
“Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death for men, and they are three times more likely to die by suicide than women,” said Bryn.
“Well Man addresses this through motivationally informed life skills for men in every stage of their lives.
“This could be at risk male cohorts like men in construction, rural and remote areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, men who identify as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, or older men of retirement and beyond.
“With this years theme for Men’s Health week being “healthy habits” the Well Man program showcases top practical tips for men in routine building exercises that improve wellbeing.”
Part of the Well Man resource kit is a trilogy of free available handbooks:
- Men’s Life Promotion Survival Handbook
- 26 steps to Manhood
- Retirement and beyond
Each book of delicately crafted musings provide men in regional Queensland with the necessary tools to create a positive direction in life, written by the founder himself.
“By adopting positive living and wellbeing behaviours recommended by Grant, men have been able to heal and get their life back on track. Small behaviour and wellbeing changes do create major life gains.”
Encouraging help seeking behaviour – Well Man Ambassadors
Well Man Ambassadors was created in 2023 to prevent suicide attempts in regional and remote communities, it does this by creating connections between others to help them live well and reduce loneliness.
It also encourages locals to develop connection through a passion for mental wellbeing, promoting conversations that encourage help-seeking behaviour, a key catalyst surrounding men’s mental health.
“Overcoming loneliness and encouraging social interaction is a key driving factor behind the philosophy of Well Man Ambassadors.
“The program offers a welcome and trusting space for those in distress to turn to, offering a non-clinical relaxed option to help individuals socialise, learn new skills, make friends and improve on their mental wellbeing.
“Being a Well Man ambassador gives me the necessary tools to help my community and encourage conversations about mental health with my mates, something which I am very passionate about”.
selectability understands that providing tailored services to regional communities are necessary to improve mental wellbeing and prevent suicide, these programs are often targeted to specific demographics.
If you are or know of a man in need of support, visit the Well Man website and download any of the free, downloadable Well Man handbooks.
USEFUL LINKS
selectability acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we provide services and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge those with lived experience and those who support and partner with us to improve mental wellbeing and prevent suicide across regional Queensland.
