Vanessa Hall  
Editor  

AS CONVERSATIONS continue around men’s health, mental wellbeing and the search for positive male role models and whilst focusing on Men’s Health Week (15–21 June), two organisations are taking on the challenge of promoting better male health, one chat at a time.

According to national not-for-profit organisation ‘The Men’s Table’, positive role models are not always found on sporting fields, social media platforms or public stages, and via a series of informal chats, men from all walks of life are being heard and taking positive health steps.

Since launching in Sydney in 2019 with a single group of 12 men, The Men’s Table has grown to more than 296 Tables across Australia, supporting more than 2,800 men through regular conversations focused on life, health and wellbeing.

Similarly, local charity ‘Grab Life By The Balls’ (GLBTB), which formed on the Sunshine Coast 10 years ago and has spread as far north as Townsville, west to the Barossa and south to Warrnambool, is also helping men by way of checking in via an informal chat and catch-up.

The Men’s Table co-founder and chief executive officer, David Pointon, said that they are “redefining strength as something that includes care, vulnerability and connection.”

The organisation’s newly released 2025 Impact Report, ‘A Thousand Men’s Voices’, highlights six years of evidence showing that connection is not simply a social benefit, but an effective preventative mental health tool.

The report comes as men’s health and well-being receive increasing national attention.

Representatives from The Men’s Table recently met with Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence, Ged Kearney, and Special Envoy for Men’s Health, Dan Repacholi, during the launch of the Australian Government’s National Healthy Men Community Conversations project in Victoria.

For The Men’s Table, the national discussion reinforces what its own members have been saying for years, and their report backs up with statistics.

The report found 93 per cent of surveyed members feel heard, seen and understood at their Table, while 85 per cent say participation supports their mental health and wellbeing. More than three-quarters said they would feel comfortable calling someone from their Table if they were going through a difficult time.

The benefits are also being felt beyond the men themselves. Sixty-eight per cent of members said they are better able to model healthy versions of being a man, while 60 per cent reported being more capable of caring for their families. More than half said they are better able to contribute to their communities.

The report includes stories from men whose lives have been changed through the simple act of regular connection, and Mr Pointon said they are seeing a shift in how many men are defining healthy masculinity.

“The men at our Tables are not asking for permission to care. They are already doing it,” he said.

“What we are seeing is a powerful counter-narrative. Men want deeper connection, they want to be better listeners, better fathers, better friends, better partners and better members of their communities.”

GRABBING LIFE BY THE BALLS IN COOLUM
Founder of GLBTB, Sam Parker, furthered the benefits of having a chat with other men and how beneficial that can be.

“When you get guys together to connect and put that emphasis on catching up, we found that over time, if you want to make a positive change to your health, if you have three or four close mates you can call on, it releases both physical and mental health pressures.”

With no pressure to sign up or have skills, GLBTB is simply about “mateship”.

“Come as you are and talk about anything – the weather, the footy, whatever! We have made this as easy and accessible as possible.”

Sam stated that often it was women who found out about the group online and then encouraged the men in their lives to come along.

“We have lots of men who are over 45 come along, but there is no age limit apart from being over 18, and we have men, the ‘wingmen’ who are on hand in case there’s ever any big issues that need to be heard.”

GLBTB is a registered charity, and they have many local ‘chats’ in the region with groups catching up on Monday mornings from 6.30 am in Coolum, Wednesday at Mudjimba, Thursday at Peregian and Sunday morning at Bli Bli.

“It would be great to get some more guys to come along to Coolum on Monday mornings, and there’s no registration or anything, just rock up!”

LET’S CHANGE THESE STATS!  
*1 in 2 men will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives.
*7 men die by suicide every day in Australia.
*1 in 4 men have no close mates.
*1 in 3 men experience loneliness.
*3 in 5 men have lost contact with more mates than they would like.

Strong social connections matter. They help boys and men live happier, healthier lives and enjoy a better quality of life. Maintaining meaningful male friendships can improve life expectancy by up to 22%, and having just three close mates is one of the best things a man can do for his health and wellbeing – (From GLBTB).

HOW TO CONNECT 
Grab Life By The Balls –  https://www.grablifebytheballs.com.au
The Men’s Table – https://themenstable.org
Need urgent help? Please contact Lifeline on 131114 or text 0477 131 114