The Avon Football Association held the annual Talk to a Mate Men’s Wellbeing Round over the weekend when teams went head to head on Sunday, June 10.
The round is recognised by all teams and assocations under the West Australian Country Football League in a partnership with The Regional Men’s Health Initiative.
This partnership unites 25 football associations and 128 different football teams, encouraging men to talk to a mate before it all gets too much.
The Regional Men’s Health Initiative said it is important for men to talk about issues in their lives to know they are not alone.
“As blokes we quite often isolate ourselves and we go into our cave and don't talk to anyone about our stuff. Now that's all right, as long as we remember to come out of the cave,” they said.
“One of the problems is we don't identify who our true mates are in the good times, this then leads to isolation and loneliness which are often precursors for other wellbeing issues.”
The Initiative said mates can come in the form of a mentor, a partner and a peer.
“Men are hardwired to be ‘problem solvers’ and we like to work alone in our own cave.”
“We often have an attitude that if we disclose we have a few problems, someone may exploit our weakness.
“It is well known that problems shared are often problems halved and helping a mate overcome isolation by simply having a chat can help our resilience when we are overwhelmed in difficult times.”
Talk to a Mate Round was on Sunday 10 June when Federals took on Keller Tammin at home and the Railways went up against Quairading in Quairading.