Port Macquarie: Mark Occhilupo, Anthony Seibold step out for men’s mental health talk

High profile sports personalities will step out on Friday night to discuss one of the fastest growing movements along the Mid-North Coast – men’s mental health.

An icon of Australian surfing and an ex-NRL coach – who both seemingly had the world at their feet – will headline a special evening in Port Macquarie to talk about the importance of men’s mental health.

As a nod to Men’s Mental Health Week this week, Blokepedia in association with Settlers Inn, will host a night of beers, banter and deep and meaningful conversations that drill down into the core issues around men’s mental health.

Highlighting the night at Settlers Inn will be Australian surfing legend Mark Occhilupo and ex-rugby league great-turned NRL coach, Anthony Seibold.

Former world champion surfer Mark Occhilupo.

The pair will open up about their personal lives and the impact their professions had on their own struggles with mental health.

Alistair Flower, Director Flower Hotels, said the night will provide an opportunity for men to gather and socialise in a comfortable, well-known environment – the pub.

“Men's Mental Health is an ongoing issue in our community,” he said.

“As part of Mental Health Week, Settlers is hosting a great event to raise awareness and promote healthy conversations among your mates.

“Come on down and have a beer, listen to the stories of great Australian sporting icon, Mark Occhilupo, NRL Coach Anthony Seibold and Dr Clive Williams.

“This will be about keeping mateship alive and looking after each other – that’s the whole concept about this night

“Typically events like this might be about old mate scoring the last try in the grand final, and about yahooing and sport, but this will be talking about the raw stories and I think that really will resonate with a lot of people.

“There’ll be a couple of beers and dinner, speeches and talks in a pretty relaxed environment.

Ex-rugby league player and coach Anthony Seibold. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

The organisation behind the ‘Conversations That Matter’ event is Blokepedia.

Blokepedia started as a blog site in January 2017 by Josh Quarmby with the aim of promoting and encouraging conversations around the issues and topics that impact the lives of Australian men.

Motivated by a desire to create real change for the individuals Blokepedia works with, Mr Quamby enlisted the support of leading health professionals to create a range of solutions aimed at providing the tools and supports needed to enhance health and wellbeing.

Today, Blokepedia works alongside businesses and the community to deliver workplace training, programs, and events that empower and support individuals to optimise their social, emotional, and physical health.

The group’s mission is to create positive change for men, their families, and the community through opportunities for connection, learning, and individual development.

Alistair Flower, Managing Director at Flower Hotels. Pic: Lindsay Moller.

Their work is part of a growing movement of men’s health groups taking off on the Mid-North Coast, such as The Men’s Shed, Men’s Meetups and the Port Macquarie-based Self Seen.

Co-founder of the Self Seen movement, Eli Ihaia, created the non-profit group which is an acronym for Self Empowered Love Framework Secures Every Essential Need).

The group conducts sunrise community walks, and free barbecues for people in a ‘come as you are’ environment free of judgement.

The workshops help those who are suffering in silence.

“The group is all about creating community connection so that we don’t have to struggle through the hard times alone,” he said.

“It is encouraging them to step into vulnerability, to be able to feel safe, and say hey man I’m not doing well today or I’m not doing well this week.

“Just having that strength because stigma around how we show up as men is shocking.

Co-founder of the Self Seen movement, Eli Ihaia. Pic Facebook

“We either still don’t feel safe or we still don’t feel like we can open up about our feelings and what’s going through our minds.

He said the group provides a release for people to turn away from nasty suppressants, such as drugs and alcohol, and to turn healthy, happy and wholesome relationships.

Mr Flower said it was no surprise that men’s mental health awareness is on the rise across the Mid-North Coast.

“What I find in the Port Macquarie region particularly is that everyone just wants to help each other out,” he said.

“It was evident with the fires and it was evident with the floods, when people are doing it tough people do stand up – it’s so noticeable.

“There has been some pretty high profile guys who have lost their lives to suicide in the last few years, a lot of big players, so it’s really resonating with a lot of people.”

Tickets to tomorrow night’s event at Settlers inn are available from www.blokepedia.com/events