Mates: From left, Brendan Crouch, Sean O’Keefe and James Crawford took part in Talking Straight.
To many men of Greater Shepparton, Dale Wright is a life saver.
He is the founder of Talking Straight, a once-a-year 13-week program where men can talk about their problems and their feelings without judgment.
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Mr Wright says the inspiration for the group came from his experiences of being in a dark place more than 25 years ago.
“I was trying to find a place where you could actually sit and talk about situations in your life. And there wasn't. So I created Talking Straight,” Mr Wright said.
Mr Wright’s experience with emotional distress is not unique.
Over two in five (43.7 per cent, or 8.6 million) Australians aged 16 to 85 are estimated to have experienced a mental disorder, with anxiety the most prevalent.
However, the 2020 Ten to Men: the Australian Longitudinal Study of Male Health report found that only a quarter of men said they would seek help from a mental health professional if they were experiencing personal or emotional problems.
Statistically males make up 75 per cent of suicide cases in Australia, and people in rural areas are twice as likely to die by their own hand than their metropolitan counterparts.
Talking Straight is a grassroots effort to improve such statistics.
Each 13-week session comprises up to 10 attendees and is run from Mr Wright’s studio.
Mr Wright moderates the meetings with Kevin Sidebottom, who acts as his assistant, and each weekly session goes for three to four hours.
In it together: Kevin Sidebottom, Brendan Crouch, Sean O’Keefe, James Crawford and Talking Straight founder Dale Wright.
Applicants for the group are vetted prior to being signed up to ensure they are a proper fit, with one of the key requirements being they are open-minded and prepared to be challenged.
Each week the group tackles a theme such as compassion, forgiveness, masculinity or relationships. The 13-week program also includes a weekend canoe trip, which Mr Wright uses to allow the group members to bond with each other.
“I think it's important that the men go away together for a couple of days, they mentor each other when they canoe and during the three days they are away they do a workshop with me,” Mr Wright said.
Talking Straight has seen more than 240 men participate from all walks of life since its inception.
“Some suffer anxiety, panic attacks, are separated fathers, or just men who just want to know more about life in general,” Mr Wright said.
Sean O’ Keefe is one such person Talking Straight has helped.
Mr O’Keefe, a 40-year-old engineer, suffered a marriage breakdown that resulted in him not having as much access to his kids as he would have liked.
Like many men in similar situations, Mr O’Keefe had begun to withdraw from society and he suffered from a lack of drive and enthusiasm.
Visits to counsellors and psychologists didn’t help.
“I felt I was doing all the talking and they weren’t providing much in return,” Mr O’Keefe said.
In comparison, Mr O’Keefe found Talking Straight very interactive, with lots of feedback and learning from other members and Mr Wright.
Mr O’Keefe says perhaps the greatest aspect of the session was the bonds it created.
“I have formed a lot of connections and friends coming out of the Talking Straight group, and not just from my immediate group but from other people who have gone through the 13 weeks,” Mr O’Keefe said.
This positive experience is echoed by Brendan Crouch and James Crawford.
A 25-year-old who works in retail, Mr Crouch turned to Talking Straight after a severe motorcycle accident.
“It was the first bit of therapy I've ever really done for myself,” Mr Crouch said.
To begin with, Mr Crouch found the experience confronting, being in a group and talking to complete strangers about his problems.
However, he found the group non-judgmental and supportive, and the fact that he felt surrounded by people who genuinely wanted to hear him speak allowed him to open up.
On the right path: James Crawford, Kevin Sidebottom, Sean O’Keefe, Dale Wright and Brendan Crouch.
As for whether he would recommend the program to others, Mr Crouch said the group had an important role in society.
“The program, I would recommend to anybody that feels like they are wanting to get back on track … I think it's very important to reconnect, and you're in a safe environment where you can do that,” he said.
This feeling of safety was also experienced by Mr Crawford, a 30-year-old carpenter who was going through a hard time in life, with lots of pressure and anxiety.
Talking Straight was recommended to him and he has never regretted his decision to enrol.
One of the greatest surprises he had was his familiarity with other attendees.
“I was surprised by how many other men were in similar circumstances that you don’t hear about,” Mr Crawford said.
As for advice for men who had found themselves in the same emotional situation as he was in, Mr Crawford had one thing to say.
“You don’t have to bite your tongue if you’re struggling, you can always ask for help,” he said.
Applications for the 2023 program are open. If you wish to take part contact Dale on 5821 1864.
