Men's Mental Health - An Interview With Callum

In this video Callum opens up about his own experience with mental health

Brooke & Emily sit down with him to talk about Men’s Mental health, as it’s something we are on a mission to improve through movement, health and fitness.

I do isolate myself when I’m at home.

I’m more of a sporty person, I find that going to footy training, coming to the gym and hanging with mates really helps.

When I’m home, I really do isolate which isn’t a great idea. I overthink things, and I have to watch a movie or go for a walk to get my mind off things. I know it’s better to speak to others about it.

Overall, stick around family. Family is the main support network that helps you go through this kind of stuff because they’re on the journey with you, and they probably know you better than anyone else.

As a kid, I suffered from it a lot. When I was younger, Mum and Dad helped a lot, same as my older brothers who we were good to talk to.

Men don’t think that mental health is a big thing.

It hurts a lot of people, like myself.

I can see on the footy field a lot of people are down when they’re playing bad. For me, I find when I’m not playing well, my mental health will be all over the shop.

It’s just about finding a way to bring my confidence up a bit…

Do you think it’s perceived as a weakness if men are struggling with their mental health, or do you think that stigma is kinda going?

I think it’s improved, but I think it still needs to be better.

I don’t see too many blokes admitting they’re struggling. They hide it a lot.

… and you can never tell. I know some of my mates probably have it, and I can never tell they have it, and they’re too afraid to reach out to someone or even friends and family, so you just don’t know.

Sometimes it comes out with guys while out drinking, but that might not be taken as seriously as well, because it’s just drunk talk and they’re too embarrassed to talk about it, and/or then you don’t know how to handle it, or if what was said was actually true.

Do you know where to go, or who to speak to if you are struggling

No. Back around school days, I went to see a few people, but I couldn’t find the right one.

That’s one of the hardest things, is that people just don’t know where to go.

… and if you do know who to speak with, it’s about the comfort levels of actually reaching out. “Am I as bad as what it needs to be to speak with someone at this point!? Some might think their personal case isn’t worthy of reaching out, when really, if the thought has crossed your mind, it’s time to speak about it.

Going into this interview, we didn’t realise that Callum had experienced mental health in the past, which shows that you just can’t tell what people are going through.

Callum’s advice is to just go and speak with someone. That’s the goal.