This Men’s Health Week our community must bury the kiwi ‘toughen up’ mentality and genuinely reach out if we need to, according to the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand and Central Otago mayor Tim Cadogan.

Tim said he learnt first hand the importance of being proactive in regards to physical health when his doctor picked up prostate cancer in its early stages 18 months ago. 

“Had I not gone to see him when I did, I would not have heard the words “but we’ve got it early” straight after being told I had cancer.  

“I can’t tell you how much I clung to those words as I came to terms with the diagnosis and went through treatment.”

Tim said mental health is a trickier one, but he knows if he doesn’t look after himself, things can unravel.  

“When the pressure comes on, I know to up the exercise and sleep amongst other measures to keep myself well. 

“It took me a long time to learn the signs that I need to up the self-help and some of that learning came from a time in my life when I had to reach out and get some help.  

“It was not an easy thing to do, but I hate to think of what my life would have wound up like if I hadn’t…. it can be hard to see the need for help when our mental health might not be great. 

“There is a real need at those times for others, especially us guys, to reach out to each other and have those challenging conversations if we think our mates are in a hole.”

For one week in June each year men are urged to start with the small steps that can turn their health issues - including their mental health - around.  

Mayor Tim places value on his health after beating prostate cancer

The Men’s Health Week website said eight kiwi families every day lose a man to a preventable illness.

“A boy born today will live nearly four years less than a girl born in the room next door. He will be over 20 per cent more likely to die of a heart attack than the girl, and almost 30 per cent more likely to get diabetes.”

The Mental Health Foundation’s campaign ‘Manly As’ is about letting go of the ‘strong, silent, stoic’ approach and losing the ‘harden up’ mentality. 

Mental Health promoter Ciaran Fox said kiwi men aren’t robots – we're human and it's normal to have emotions, and ups and downs. 

“The most negative thing we can do for our mental fitness, is stop connecting with others or saying how we’re doing.”

Ciaran encouraged Kiwi men to be themselves and to not be afraid to talk about how they're doing.

“Suppressing the real you in order to live up to the expectations of your mates or society can be incredibly damaging. We need to move beyond those pressures, and see that real courage comes from being ourselves.”

Growing your mental fitness as well as your physical fitness is important, and someone who knows all about the challenges of depression is TV personality, journalist, author and Chatto Creek farmer Matt Chisholm.

Matt is an ambassador for Men’s Health Week, spreading the simple message: ‘Guys, be honest, are you doing the right things for your health? The people who love and depend on you sure hope so’.

There are heaps of useful tips, podcasts, quizzes and a free Men’s Health Survey online ‘What’s your score’. Check it out today, or get your father, brother, grandfather or mate to do it too.

Have you got a men’s health story or viewpoint to share? Contact our reporters: [email protected]