The biggest killer for men age 14-44 in Australia is suicide, and one group of men in Australia decided they had to do something about it.
From their website:
We’re standing up to be counted. We’re saying it’s time we chuck out that tough Aussie bloke stereotype and bring back the laid-back Aussies. Speak up if you’re not feeling right. Soften the fck up like a real man would.
Look after your mates if something seems a bit off. Ask them if they’re okay. If they’re really okay. Ya gut will usually be right, even if your mate doesn’t wanna talk about it. Grab a beer and have a chat.
Tell your mates and your bros. Get on Facebook and Twitter. Share your thoughts or experiences. So go on, be tough and go soft.It is time to admit something is wrong or isn’t right and take action.
Here’s their mission:
“It started with a conversation and quickly turned into a national platform to prioritise the prevention of avoidable suicide amongst Aussie men. Soften the Fck Up is passionate about making it easier for men to take action than to take their own lives. Suicide is the main cause of mortality for males aged 14-44 and in 2010 a quarter of all male deaths aged 15-40 were due to suicide. The main factor is the reluctance, or inherent challenge, for men to recognise and identify their need for help and to seek it out. We’re here to challenge the conversation around mental health and the perception of what it really means to be a man. Our message is simple – if you’re going through a tough time, you need to soften the fck up and talk about it.”
What do you think about this campaign?
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Read STFU’s Creative Director Lee Crockford’s post about starting a dialogue on men and suicide here.
