Kids Helpline is encouraging boys and young men to take time to prioritise their mental health this week, as part of International Men’s Health Week this week.
yourtown CEO Tracy Adams says this is an important date for all members of the community, but particularly young men and those with young men in their lives, to build a positive culture around mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Males are shown to have significantly reduced help-seeking for mental health concerns compared with females.
Kids Helpline recorded 57 contacts from males on an average day in May 2025, when compared with 195 females on the same day.
“Unfortunately, young males aged between 15 – 18 years of age are the least likely to seek mental health support due to societal stigma, often delaying seeking professional counsellor help until they are in crisis,” Ms Adams said.
“Many boys—though certainly not all—have trouble talking about emotions and feelings because social norms have encouraged them to conform to a masculine ideal that emphasizes values like stoicism, toughness, and competitiveness. These social dynamics have long-term implications for their mental health. We need to twist the prism a little bit about how boys view mental health and their own emotional health,” Ms Adams continued
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