Evan's Aetiology - v3.20

Prioritise Your Mental Health: Stories, Struggles, & Simple Solutions

Mental Health is the New Black

I recently attended a Men’s Health Night at the local footy club. As I approach my mid-fifties, the need to maintain good physical and mental health becomes more and more pressing. I wanted to hear stories from the front line—from men who’ve been knocked down, who dusted themselves off, stood up and tackled their problems head on. And I wasn’t disappointed.

First, some good news. Compared with many other countries, Aussies are fortunate. On average, we enjoy better health and live longer—we’re currently ranked fifth for life expectancy, compared with 38 OECD countries.

But men could do better. Women outlive us by three years, on average. Men are less likely to visit their GP regularly. We’re more inclined to drink, smoke, use illegal drugs, or take risks. And we’re much more likely to be killed at work. Nine out of ten workplace fatalities are men.

The guest speaker for the night was a big character. He shared his own brush with suicide, a story so powerful it brought tears to the eyes of some of my mates. Then he asked for questions. Everyone stared at the floor. Feeling embarrassed for him I broke the silence. ‘After all that, how do you look after your mental health?’

He flashed a smile and laid out his five-point plan:

• Exercise regularly—at least thirty minutes of moderate activity each day.
• Eat well—fresh fruit and vegetables are essential.
• Sleep eight hours per night.
• Visit the doctor each year for a check-up.
• Cultivate a group of close mates to help shoulder life’s burdens.

We all know this—but do we follow his prescription religiously? Probably not. The next speaker laid out the mental health challenges we face in sobering detail:?

• Almost half of all Australians will grapple with mental health issues at some point in their lives.
• One in four will experience anxiety.
• One in five will find themselves addicted to drugs or alcohol.
• One in seven will sink into depression.
• One in six will contemplate suicide. Of the nine Australians on average who die by their own hand each day, seven are men.

After he finished speaking, I noticed my mate Dave had slipped away. I followed him outside and found him sitting on the steps, his face buried in his hands. Those harsh statistics hit a nerve. Because Dave had lost a good friend to suicide.

I let him talk. The story poured out. His mate had been set up to fail. His grandfather had suicided, as had his dad. His mother used to taunt him. ‘You’re useless. Why don’t you kill yourself, like your father?’ Brutal stuff. His demons had dragged him down. He was estranged from his kids and his ex-wife.

As Dave wiped his tears away, I took a deep breath and asked him a question. Maybe it was insensitive. Maybe it helped. I don’t know—but I had to ask. ?‘When you go dark, are you angry with your mate? Or with yourself?’

Dave looked up, his eyes bleary. ‘I don’t blame him. I don’t blame myself. I just miss him so much.’ He turned away to hide his grief.

If you ask your group of friends, chances are you know someone like Dave, or his mate. Business owners are just as susceptible to mental health challenges as anyone else. Or even more so—the stresses involved in running a business can see us turning to alcohol or drugs, failing to eat or exercise right, ignoring the warning signs that tell us to see our doctor, pronto.

I know how Dave feels, because I’ve struggled at times to straighten out my own head. It’s daunting. Sometimes it feels like I take one step forward, two steps back. But then, I’m often hard on myself. I see that same hardness in some of my clients. It breeds success—but at what cost??

My message today is simple. Look after yourself first, before you try to look after anyone else—your spouse, your children, your employees. If you need more information about mental health, visit?beyondblue.org.au. Their website has plenty of resources to start you on your journey. Decide to make your mental health a priority, then stick to that commitment—every day, for the rest of your life.

Whether you’re building your business, growing it, or looking for an exit strategy, the best way to get the most out of your business is to have?Australia’s leading financial concierge?in your corner.

We work with companies and organisation who:

• Want to dramatically improve their revenue and profitability
• Are ready to focus on people, communication
• Are open to exciting new possibilities

If this resonates with you, find out more.