Hey Fellas, Are you Listening
Not Too TUF to Speak Up – A Message from The Unbreakable Farmer
June is Men’s Health Month, which is a great time to talk about looking after ourselves, not just physically, but mentally too. Because mental health doesn’t follow a calendar. It’s not something you check in on once a year and then forget about. It’s there every single day, especially in the tough moments. And for many blokes out in the rural communities, in offices, or on the job site, the hardest thing isn’t the work, it’s speaking up.
I know that silence. I lived in it for years.
When I lost the farm, it felt like I lost everything. My identity, my sense of worth, my place in the world, gone. I kept quiet because I thought that’s what men are meant to do. Push through. Get on with it. Stay busy. Be tough. But the truth is, that silence nearly broke me. I didn’t know how to talk about what I was feeling. I didn’t know if I was even allowed to.
But here’s what I’ve learnt: the real strength isn’t in how well you hide the cracks. It’s in having the courage to say, “I’m not okay.”
It takes guts to speak up. It takes real strength to reach out, especially when you feel like you should have all the answers. But no one has it all sorted, not me, not you, not anyone. And that’s why talking matters. It’s not weak. It’s not soft. It’s survival.
Because the numbers don’t lie. On average, Aussie blokes are dying six years younger than women. And many of those deaths could have been prevented. Suicide, untreated mental illness, addiction, this stuff is taking too many of us far too soon. And it doesn’t have to be that way.
We can change the story. We have to change the story. And it starts by dropping the mask and having a real chat.
You’re Not Alone, Mate
If you’re struggling, the first thing to know is you don’t have to go it alone. Build yourself a support network. People who’ll show up when things fall apart. Mates who ask the hard questions, family who will sit quietly beside you, professionals who’ll help guide you through the mess.
And if you’re that mate who notices something’s not right with someone else speak up. Ask them how they’re really going. It might feel awkward, but your words could be the thing that helps them hold on.
Try this:
“I haven’t seen you around much — what’s been going on?”
“You’ve seemed a bit off lately — are you doing okay?”
“There’s been a lot going on — how are you really coping?”
You don’t have to fix it. Just listen. Be present. That one conversation might just be the circuit breaker they need.
Let’s Back Each Other In
This June, let’s do more than just talk about men’s health. Let’s live it. Let’s show each other that we’re never too tough to speak up.
Post a photo of yourself doing something that keeps you grounded — working on the farm, fishing, camping, playing footy, whatever keeps your spirit ticking — and use the hashtag #not2TUF2speakup.
Let’s flood our feeds with messages that say: “You’re not alone.”
“You matter.”
“It’s okay to feel.”
“It’s okay to talk.”
“It’s okay to get help.”
We need to remind each other that the world needs us here in one piece, not pushing through in silence.
If you're doing it tough, reach out. These support services are here to help:
TIACS – Talk It Out: 0488 846 988
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Rural Financial Counselling Service – 1800 686 175
Drought Angels – 1300 327 624
Rural Aid – 1300 327 624
Respect (Domestic Violence Support) – 1800 737 732
Your GP or local mental health service
Let’s have each other’s backs. Let’s start the conversation. And let’s remember: no one is too tough to speak up.
More info and resources: www.theunbreakablefarmer.com.au
Facebook: The Unbreakable Farmer
#not2TUF2speakup #gotyourbackmate