Let's talk less about toughening up and more about opening up.
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That's the message from former National Rugby League coach Anthony Seibold as men's health week prepares to wrap up on June 20.
"The stigma of 'toughen up and keep it to yourself' is long gone. It's really important that we promote the message that it's okay to not be okay and it's okay to have a conversation or ask a mate for help," he said.
"All of us (men) at different times are somewhere on that mental health spectrum and we want to see people flourish."
Seibold felt it was important to use his story and message as a way to highlight the challenges and hurdles of everyday life.
"It's okay to be a bit challenged with things and there's going to be obstacles thrown in front of us but in some ways that's part of the journey of life," he said.
The former Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs coach is in arguably the best position to speak about mental health after being the victim of a targeted campaign to harass and defame him on social media 12 months ago.
Off the back of that 'pretty horrible experience' he was asked to be an ambassador for well-being platform Readiness which led to organisations such as Blokepedia inviting him to speak at events.
Despite his standing as a former sporting head coach, Seibold said conversations needed to be had at all levels - whether that was in a sporting environment or not.
"I don't want to narrow it down to sports people, this is about all men being comfortable with having a conversation," he said.
Seibold now holds an advisory role with the Newcastle Knights and will be guest speaker at Settlers Inn on Friday night.
He will join surfing champ Mark Occhilupo and Dr Clive Williams at the event which aims to raise awareness and promote healthy conversations amongst your mates
"The local pub is part of a community where belonging and having a conversation with your mates are important," he said.
"When you're playing for a sporting team, whether it's at a professional level, or whether it's in Port Macquarie or Rockhampton where I'm from, it's all about belonging."
Research suggests 75 percent of males are more likely to commit suicide and the ex-primary school teacher said those statistics were sobering.
"I've taught boys and men from primary school age all the way through to players who are in their 30s with families and along the journey I've seen young men on different parts of the mental health scale," he said.
"What happens with all men is that we all fluctuate and if we have a scale of 1 to 10 we will all be somewhere along that scale at some point.
"So for me, being a very small advocate for men opening up and having conversations is the least I can do."
Tickets are $45 and include dinner and drinks, are still available and can be purchased by ringing Settlers Inn.
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