A recent video from The Better Bloke Project, a charity dedicated to reducing the suicide rate among Australian men, has sparked a heated online debate.
The controversy erupted when the group’s video suggested that women should “shut up” to give men a moment to think about their mental health.
This statement quickly went viral, raising questions about the role of gender dynamics in conversations about men’s mental health.
So, is it women to blame for men’s mental health struggles?
The Better Bloke Project’s mission is to tackle suicide, which remains the leading cause of death for Australian men.
However, their latest video prompted a wave of criticism online.
Many commentators, particularly women, have expressed concern over the dismissive tone of the message, arguing that it undermines the importance of collaboration in mental health discussions.
On this episode of The Briefing, we sat down with Professor Braden Hill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Students, Equity, and Indigenous at Edith Cowan University.
Hill has been actively responding to similar content online, urging a more nuanced approach to discussing men’s mental health, feminism, and racism.
“Men can communicate and are able to have these conversations. But I think blaming women for that sense of discomfort is the wrong target,” he said.
He highlighted that discussions on feminism and what it means to be a man are rapidly evolving in today’s social climate.
“The expectations on men are changing, and so I think that’s bringing a great deal of uncertainty for a lot of men because the blueprint to be the tough bloke is not, it’s shaky now,” Hill said.
He pointed out that the system driving this issue has been largely perpetuated by men, and acknowledged that this is a difficult reality for many to face.
“I think we have to acknowledge that we have been part of a problem that has led to what is a really major crisis in men’s mental health. But we have to take accountability for that.”
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