Men’s mental health event Walk ‘n’ Talk in Rockhampton July 1

A men’s mental health movement has started in Rockhampton, which aims to connect men in the community, shatter stigma and reduce the statistics of male suicide.

A men’s mental health movement, which aims to connect men in the community, shatter stigma and reduce the statistics of male suicide, has started in Rockhampton.

Walk ‘n’ Talk was started by Rockhampton locals Jordan Meehan and Chris Bennett, who met through work at All Types of Care Queensland.

Jordan said he had struggled with his own mental health issues and felt like he was lost.

“I didn’t know who to turn to or who to talk to and I didn’t know what normal felt like,” he said.

“I just started talking to people and by talking I felt like I was getting the answers I was looking for.”

Walk ‘n’ Talk co-founders Jordan Meehan and Chris Bennett. Picture: Aden Stokes

Chris said he had also struggled with mental health issues, but moved through them because he had mates around who provided support.

Walk ‘n’ Talk is a place for men to connect where they are not judged and can talk about anything, with Jordan and Chris sharing tools and strategies they have learnt over the years through doing their own self help.

According to Lifeline, 75 per cent of those who take their own life are male.

“Those stats are really powerful,” Jordan said.

“We’re not going to be able to stop that but if we can support some men from the community, even if it’s one person, we feel like we are doing our job.”

Jordan said the free community event would run every three weekends on a Saturday with an event on July 1 at Rose Swadling Park on Norman Road, Norman Gardens, at 7am.

“We usually start with a check in, have a bit of a talk,” he said.

“We will go for a walk, that gets the blood flowing, creates more conversations.

“We come back, we’ve got food there for people to eat, there’s plenty of connections to make.

“You could meet some new friends and connect with some men from the community.”

Walk ‘n’ Talk co-founders Jordan Meehan and Chris Bennett. The men’s mental health movement’s second event will be held on July 1 at Rose Swadling Park. Picture: Aden Stokes

Chris said the feedback from the first event, which was held on June 10, was very positive.

Jordan said about 20 men turned out to event.

“We had lots of men reach out to us and say they are struggling,” he said.

“Guys that have come have said they have needed this, they’ve been waiting for it, and that they would be back and that they can’t wait for these to continue and look forward to it.”

He said people did not need to be struggling to go along.

“You can just be wanting to make some mates, or be new to town,” he said.

“We are about connecting with men in the community.

“We have built a bit of a brotherhood, a place for any male over 18 to come and connect and chat about their diverse experiences, about what’s going on for them in life.

“Men from all walks of life are welcome, we are a non-judgmental crew and we just want to make friends and see if we can support some more men in the community.”

Follow Walk ‘n’ Talk on Facebook and Instagram for more information or future events.