MEN’S health in Swan Hill was highlighted on Friday morning, with Bunnings holding a free men’s breakfast organised by Community Health.
Part of Men’s Health Week, it attracted a strong turnout despite the cold and rain.
Swan Hill District Health’s Tarra Higgins said it was important to acknowledge men’s health week within the community.
“It’s not just physical health but mental health and social as well, so we thought we would have a brekky and get men chatting about health,” Ms Higgins said.
“We had some free blood pressure checks, some early detection, and if something was found they can get referred to a GP.
“Bunnings have been very helpful, the Rotary Club of Swan Hill were making their delicious egg and bacon rolls, Bowser Bean provided free coffees and Ambulance Victoria carried out health checks.”
MDAS’s drug and alcohol counsellor Aaron Best said events like the men’s breakfast are really positive in building more awareness for men’s health.
“There are so many factors in that (men’s health), the rise of social media which brings a lot of isolation because people don’t call each other or rock up to the house any more,” he said. “It’s all short messaging or Facebook stories.
“There is also a lot of pressure within society at the moment, cost of living and a housing crisis.
“You have men out there that are really trying to make a dollar and push the limits of what they are capable of mentally and physically to earn that dollar and provide, things like health and relationships go on the back burner.
“The leading cause of death in males between the ages of 15 to 45 is suicide secondary to heart disease”.
Mr Best has formed a men’s circle group operating out of the Swan Hill Soccer Club’s new club rooms once a fortnight for two hours.
“It is a real safe space created for men to feel supported and build strong connections,” he said.
“You find a lot of men out there are isolated trying to do it on their own. They all have their own ideas of what will work in their particular life, but when you get together you can actually share different strategies and different ways of talking life.
“It is such an empowering space where men can share those strategies and share those plans and become stronger, stronger leaders, stronger fathers and stronger men for the community.”
Bowser Bean’s Steve Colombo, who arrived at 6am to start setting up, said he liked to support local community events.
Bunnings Swan Hill manager Luke Hadfield said it was great to see so many from the community involved in putting on the breakfast.
“A lot of tradies are getting involved, as I have been serving them inside, I have been telling them to come out and say g’day,” Mr Hadfield said.
Men’s Health Week is an international week highlighting the challenges faced by men. It runs events that can replicated year-round to improve the physical, emotional and mental health of men and boys.
