Experts call for urgent investment in preventative male mental health programs, and Mentoring Men urges men to ‘Meet a Mate’ this October.
Australia is facing a loneliness epidemic, with almost one in three Australians feeling lonely. New research from Mentoring Men, a free service connecting men with trained, local male mentors, reveals that this crisis is particularly pronounced in men, with more than half (53%) of men aged 35-50 in NSW, Victoria, and the ACT meeting the criteria for loneliness.
Furthermore, 47% of men reported feeling that they lack companionship some of the time. This was higher among urban respondents (46%) compared to rural respondents (45%).
In response to these findings, Mentoring Men, in partnership with The Man Walk, has launched ‘Meet A Mate’, a national campaign running through October, raising awareness of the importance of connection and encouraging men to meet up with their friends and check in on their wellbeing.
The campaign is also calling for individuals, groups and corporates to donate to Mentoring Men and the Man Walk, both grassroots organisations driving positive impact for men’s mental health by facilitating connection.
The stakes of male loneliness are high:
- Men experiencing loneliness are around twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts compared to those who are not lonely.
- Men account for 75% of all suicides in Australia, which is around seven deaths every day. Men without close friends are twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts.
- Men who aren’t lonely have significantly better mental health and are less likely to be depressed, experience anxiety or have any suicidality.
- Men understand the value of connection and ‘getting help’ but feel it’s out of reach, with Mentoring Men’s research uncovering that two-thirds of men (66%) would welcome a life mentor, but 42% are unaware that mentoring services exist near them, showing the real barrier isn’t willingness but awareness.
Policy action required to tackle loneliness
A recent NSW parliamentary inquiry into loneliness recommended the government “recognise peer support, including mentoring, as a key strategy for addressing loneliness”. The inquiry specifically acknowledged Mentoring Men for its “promising results in reducing loneliness, particularly through mentorship”.
Associate Professor Emma George, Director for the Centre for Male Health at Western Sydney University, commended the Meet a Mate campaign and said the research highlights an important public health issue.
“Evidence suggests that men with lower levels of social support are more likely to experience psychological distress. These findings serve as a reminder that strong social connections are essential to achieving and sustaining good health,” she said.
Meanwhile, Filipe Gama e Silva, CEO of Mentoring Men, said that the loneliness crisis is a critical health crisis.
“Our research shows the vast majority of men are open to support, but many don’t know where to turn, so they just push through on their own. This isn’t just impacting men, but their families and communities, too. This is something we’re working to tackle every day through mentorship programs with Mentoring Men, but with the Meet a Mate campaign, we are giving men the tools to take the first steps in their mate circle, something that has the power to change a life.”
Gama e Silva hopes this campaign raises awareness of the male loneliness crisis, alongside encouraging investment into services that can help counter it – like mentorship, which has resulted in a reduction in loneliness amongst over two-thirds (68%) of mentees.
Associate Professor George concluded that proactive community programs are an essential part of the solution, saying that proactive, community-based prevention programs are vital because they create accessible opportunities for support. According to her, initiatives that build social capital and foster peer-to-peer connection can complement traditional health services to improve reach, accessibility and impact.
Find out more about the Meet a Mate campaign here.
Read also: New report proves mentoring can boost men’s mental health
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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