Prince Harry's powerful speech about mental health

PRINCE Harry has delivered an emotional message to Australian farmers and opened up about depression and mental health issues.

Ahead of the start of the Invictus Games this weekend, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visited the western NSW town of Dubbo where locals have been struggling with drought conditions.

As much-needed rain poured around them, Harry encouraged those in the town to look after each other and acknowledged the high rates of suicide, especially among young men.

“We know that suicide rates in rural and remote areas are greater than in urban populations and this may be especially true among young men in remote regions,” Harry said.

“But outside all of that here’s what I also know. You are one huge community and with that comes an unparalleled level of internal support and understanding.

“All you need to do is to ask for it. Ask your neighbour, your peer, your fellow farmer is literally right around the corner.

“Chances are they may well be suffering too and will relish the opportunity to either listen or talk themselves.”

Harry’s words echoed the advice of experts, who encourage those struggling to share their worries with someone.

“You need to know a part of being strong and tough is having the courage to ask for help when you need it,” he said.

“You must not silently suffer. You are all in this together and if I may speak personally we are all in this together, because asking for help was one of the best decisions that I ever made.

“You will be continually amazed how life changes for the better.”

News.com.au has been highlighting men’s mental health issues as part of its campaign The silent killer: Let’s make some noise in support of Gotcha4Life and the Movember Foundation.

Each day six men across Australia will take their own lives and they are three times more likely to take their own lives than women.

Suicide is the leading cause of death in Australian men aged 15 to 44 and it’s more than double the national road toll.

“It’s incredibly concerning, the over-representation of men in suicide statistics” SANE Australia chief executive Jack Heath told news.com.au.

While much of the focus of suicide prevention has been on those diagnosed with a mental illness, around 80 per cent of male suicides are not linked to any mental health diagnosis according to Glen Poole, Development Officer at the Australian Men’s Health Forum and founder of the Stop Male Suicide project.

Instead many men are simply struggling to deal with different types of life crises including relationship breakdown, work issues, financial stress, health and other issues.

He believes the key is to focus on helping men to deal with those life crises.

Gotcha4Life co-founder Gus Worland agreed and said having someone to talk to when times got tough, had helped him to manage stressful or emotional situations in the past.

“You’ve got to have someone in your life that you can talk to, warts and all,” he said. “Someone you can have a discussion with about anything and know that you won’t be judged. That person may not have an answer but you will have their heart and their ear, and it will allow you to get stuff off your chest.”

Mr Worland and his friend Gareth Pike co-founded Gotcha4Life to encourage men to identify those people in their lives who they could have deeper conversations with.

Movember mental health and suicide prevention mental lead Dr Nic Vogelpoel said talking could help some because it forced people to articulate their thoughts and feelings.

“For some it’s a good way to understand where they’re at and what to do next. You can listen to the way you’re describing yourself to people in your life.”

This process can help men to find the language to describe exactly how they are feeling.

“While learning how to have the conversation, we can also learn how to be a good mate and a good listener, and to receive those same messages and calls from your friends.”

If you or someone you know needs support with their mental health, please contact one of these support organisations:

• Lifeline 24/7: 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au

• MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78 or www.mensline.org.au

Let's block ads! (Why?)