Corowa journalist Ian Johnson, pictured with his children Dallas and Indianna, will shaving his head and beard of six years and 42cm this Saturday at Club Corowa.
In a ‘bald’ move, this weekend I’ll be taking it all off in support of men’s mental health, revealing a face many have never seen before.
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In Australia, men’s mental health is a critical concern, with seven out of nine suicide deaths daily being male, totalling 2,419 in 2023.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged 15 to 44, with one in five experiencing a mental health disorder in a 12-month period and 43 per cent experiencing anxiety or depression in their lifetime.
Those are just the raw statistics.
In my first article for the Free Press in September last year, I wrote about men’s mental health and the stigma surrounding men expressing their vulnerability and escaping the societal pressures of traditional masculinity.
That hasn’t changed.
Men have over twice the rate of substance abuse disorders than women – 4.4 per cent vs 2.1 per cent – and 26 per cent of men delay seeing a GP when they need help and are less likely to seek professional help than women.
David Harrison started the men’s social group, ‘Friday Night at the Station’, in 2020 during his time at Amaranth Foundation.
The group, initially held at the old Corowa Railway Station and now hosted at Corowa Lions Club, was founded to provide an avenue for men to come together “in search of support, without judgement, without the need for a referral, without any cost.”
David said when the group first started, the Covid-19 Pandemic had been particularly difficult for men who didn’t have a solid social network.
“I felt many men needed a safe place to reconnect, to discuss their experiences and to resume social normalities,” he said.
“The open fire and easy atmosphere at the station made it a welcoming drop-in point for a barbeque and a chat.”
Come down to Club Corowa this Saturday evening at 7pm to raise awareness and much needed funds for men’s mental health, with a raffle on the night and great prizes to be won.
Photo by
Peter Norris
This weekend I’ll be taking to the razor for the first time since 2012 in the name of men’s mental health, shaving my head and beard to raise funds for Black Dog Institute.
There’s a lot at stake; my daughter has never seen me without a beard, she may need counselling afterwards.
Many of my mates have struggled with mental health issues in some way.
Whether due to work, financial, or marital stress, or just struggling to deal with the daily grind, it doesn’t matter; some have sought help, some haven’t.
In one of my more recent articles, I wrote about Major Neville Wiggins RFD from Rutherglen, recounting his time in the Vietnam War and the effect it had on him.
For many years after the war Neville was unable to attend Anzac Day services due to the reminder of the atrocities he witnessed while serving.
“The main reason I (go to Anzac Day now) is for my wife,” Neville said.
“She’s very aware that it’s good for me to be involved.
“I realised that I wasn’t going for me, I was going for those who couldn’t,” he said.
While at first I thought, “If I’m going to take it off, I may as well do it for a good cause”, I’ve come to realise it’s bigger than that.
I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing this for those who can’t speak up, those who don’t know how or where to seek help.
So, come on down to Club Corowa this Saturday night; buy a raffle ticket, grab a beer, and support the blokes who struggle to speak out for themselves.
There are prizes to be won, with all proceeds going to the worthy Black Dog Institute.
The evening kicks off at 7pm, with guest speaker Nick Hawtin from Caffeine ‘n Machine attending to speak about mental health and his experiences with anxiety and depression.
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