Addressing mental health on the Peninsula, Narrabeen mechanic Ben Murdock is getting the conversation started with his support group, Northern Beaches Men.
Mental health is a huge issue for men on the Peninsula and a significant issue in Australia, with as many as six men taking their own lives every day.
“That’s 42 a week –2184 a year. Brothers, sons, dads, husbands,” says Narrabeen local Ben Murdock.
“It might be because they feel shame, loneliness, don’t feel they’re ‘at risk’ quite yet, or simply don’t know how to start the conversation.”
There are several initiatives and charities aimed at mental health and suicide prevention, but despite this, some men still slip through the cracks.
Father-of-two Ben can identify, as when he ‘went through some difficult times’ he didn’t know where to turn.
“I was in a corporate career for about seven years and that had come to an end, and a whole heap of things snowballed. I found myself in a bit of a hole,” he says.
“I was mentally struggling to cope and felt that sense of loneliness of not really having anyone to go and talk to.
“I was mentally struggling to cope and felt that sense of loneliness of not really having anyone to go and talk to.“
“My wife mentioned how supportive the Northern Beaches Facebook websites for mums are, and it made me wonder, ‘How many men are in a similar situation to me?’”
Ben launched Northern Beaches Men on Facebook in 2019, and it’s now got 1,100 members. He organises regular social events, men’s circles, campfires, ‘walk and talks’, an annual Christmas party, and the annual Palm Beach to Manly, which raises money for the group.
He also holds meet-ups with guest speakers, coaches, and mentors, such as psychologists and Jason Partington from Making Meditation Mainstream.
“Northern Beaches Men is a community group with the premise of mental health and social connection, where men can have that different and unique conversation that they maybe don’t or can’t have at the pub with mates or their family, or even at school,” Ben explains.
“We also have men who have arrived from overseas and are new to the area. It can be hard to find friends if you didn’t necessarily go to school here or don’t surf, or you’re not in a sports team.”
Ben is proud of how the Facebook group started as a bunch of strangers, but they now have always got each others’ backs and have built friendships outside the platform.
“What’s really prevalent for me is that whether five people turn up or 20, with the meetups and the Facebook group we’ve built a sense of community and friendship. Those who were in a similar situation to me are now friends.
“And with the experts and mentors we get in, they have such great insight, which is always appreciated.
“COVID put us back a bit, but that was when people needed it most, and we’re really building momentum now.”
For more information or to join, visit the Northern Beaches Men Facebook group. If this story has brought up anything for you, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
By Ana Foxcroft