New Mental Health App for Young Men to be Trialled
A new online mental health app designed specifically for young men was launched for trial on 3 November 2010 by the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler.
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3 November 2011
A new online mental health app designed specifically for young men was launched for trial today by the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler.
The Work Out app was developed independently by the Inspire Foundation and the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Research Institute to encourage help seeking by young men who are often reluctant to seek help for their mental health.
“About one in four young people aged between 16 and 24 experience a mental disorder, yet more than 80 per cent of young men do not seek the help they need, often because of stigma or they feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness,” Mr Butler said.
“They are more likely to try and ‘tough it out’ or may turn to alcohol and illicit drugs to mask the symptoms of depression or other mental illnesses.”
Overwhelmingly, the evidence shows that intervening early can help reduce the incidence and severity of mental health problems later in life.
“It’s important that young men can access treatment programs and reach out for help in a less intimidating way.”
“Work Out is designed to help young men take the first step to assess their mental health in an anonymous and comfortable way. The app allows young men to take part in a ‘man-friendly’ survey that assesses their mental fitness and then guides them through a process of setting themselves mental fitness goals.”
The app will also share tips and advice from appropriate and diverse role models who have achieved their goals by improving their mental fitness.
This app complements the Gillard Government’s record $2.2 billion investments which include a range of new measures targeted men such as:
- Expanding the National Workplace Program to identify and support workers with depression who are not receiving treatment. This program will target blue collar work, trades and small businesses
Increasing the capacity of helplines for men ensuring that up to 30,000 more men each year receive information and assistance
Funding targeted campaigns on mental illness for men – to reduce stigma associated with mental illness and encourage more men to see help.
The Work Out resource can be viewed at the WorkOut website.
For more information, please contact the Minister's Office on (02) 6277 7280
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