POWERFUL presentations about helping country blokes talk about mental health and suicide have helped break down the stigma around the issues.
A Health and Wellbeing Avenue was set up at the 2021 Rotary FNQ Field Days, with mental health awareness a major theme of the event.
Mental health advocate Mary O'Brien was this year's guest speaker, sponsored by the Mareeba & Dimbulah Community Bank Branches.
Ms O'Brien travels across the country with her 'Are You Bogged Mate?' initiative, aiming to boost awareness within the broader community about the rising issue of depression and suicide rates among men in rural areas.
Holding daily presentations in the Rotary Business Tent, she said the feedback she received in the Far North was fantastic.
"It's black and white, it's straight down the line and I try and make it practical and just put it into their language," she said.
"There's been a few guys getting emotional during my talks.
"There's also quite a few blokes that have been pulling me up around the grounds saying, 'I've told another five blokes they need to come and listen', so that's exciting. It doesn't get a higher recommendation than that."
Tablelands man Ben Geddis has followed Ms O'Brien's initiative online and jumped at the chance to attend one of her presentations in person.
He said her words really hit home.
"Mental health has been a pretty big thing in my family. I've gone through somebody else's mental health issues and they've tried to take their life twice, which failed both times," he said.
"They were quite severe and traumatic to go through so I've had my own depression as a result of dealing with that.
"I've been dealing with that for the last 10 years. It's so important to talk about it - that's the big thing with men."
The Health and Wellbeing Avenue included exhibits from various health and mental health services.
Wooden trees made by the Mareeba Men's Shed were set up in the avenue to give people the opportunity to leave messages for anyone who has been impacted by domestic violence or mental health struggles.
Mareeba Community Centre secondary family support worker Maria Crockford it was great to see members of the community interact with the initiative, which used paper hearts to represent mental and paper cranes to represent domestic violence.
"The idea was that at the end of the three days, you have a look at all the hearts and cranes that have been pinned up on the trees to give people a bit of an idea of how many people are affected by it," she said.
If you or anyone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.areyouboggedmate.com.au
