PEDESTRIAN.TV has teamed up with Movember to raise awareness and advocate for more action around men’s health.
Despite Australia being one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world, migrant communities continue to face issues navigating the healthcare system. Especially when it comes to receiving care for mental health.
Movember’s latest ‘Real Face of Men’s Health Report’ reveals key insights from a 2023 Australian study on male health. The research shows that men from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds face 70% higher odds of encountering barriers to accessing health services compared to non-culturally and linguistically diverse men.
These barriers likely account for why men from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds present more often to emergency departments with symptoms of a severe or life-threatening nature.
In 2006, Buku Khamis migrated to Australia from South Sudan with his parents and brothers. Growing up, Buku noticed that many men in his community were reluctant to approach mental health care or have open discussions about mental health. Wanting to change this, Buku began volunteering in his local community to support the physical, mental, and social health of migrant and refugee boys and men.
We had a chat with Buku to discuss his own experiences with mental health and how we can make these tough conversations easier.
PEDESTRIAN.TV: Hi Buku, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your upbringing?
Buku: My family and I migrated to Australia when I was six years old. We settled in Melbourne, and after attending an AFL game at the MCG in my last year of primary school, footy quickly became a big part of my life.
That experience sparked my interest, and eventually, I found myself playing junior footy at St Albans, which led me into pathways like the Western Jets’ NAB League and the Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy. Now, I’m proud to be part of the Western Bulldogs.
What was it like for your family to navigate the healthcare system when they first came to Australia?
Accessing healthcare was quite challenging for my family when we first arrived in Australia. Like many migrants, my parents faced language barriers and cultural differences that made it difficult to understand health information and engage in services. Over time, with support from community networks and learning more about how the system works, it became easier, but there were initial hurdles for sure.
What do you do to support your mental health?
I’m close with my family and I’ve made heaps of friends through footy, so I’m lucky to have a lot of support around me. As an AFL player, I’m also fortunate to have access to excellent health services through the club. This helps me maintain my physical health with regular physio sessions and rehab, but also my mental health, giving me people to talk to when I need. The AFLPA offers confidential counselling services for all current and past players, which is pretty awesome.
In my free time, I volunteer with Sons of the West, a program run by the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation and partially funded by Movember. The program encourages men from multicultural backgrounds to prioritise their health and wellbeing. It’s great to be part of an initiative that promotes open conversations about mental health and provides practical tools that support wellbeing.
What got you interested in this work?
Volunteering with the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation is incredibly fulfilling. It allows me to give back to my community in a meaningful way, by mentoring young guys and men who may face similar challenges. Helping to break down barriers to healthcare and drive positive change.
Do you think that men in your family, and men in your community are also proactive with their mental health?
In my experience, many men in migrant and refugee communities hesitate to seek help for mental health issues. That’s certainly true for some of my mates and family. There’s often a stigma around discussing mental health issues – it’s just not something we’re used to doing culturally. This is improving, though, especially with initiatives like Sons of the West, which are helping guys understand the importance of seeking help early.
What are areas of mental health awareness that you think aren’t being spoken about?
One thing that needs more attention is mental health education within multicultural communities. Men need to be able to understand the health resources they are receiving and why they are important. Addressing the mental health needs of young men in these communities is also important, as they often face unique challenges with their identity and sense of belonging.
What are some ways someone can start taking care of their mental health?
Having open conversations is key. Finding someone you trust and can talk to about how you’re feeling can make a big difference. Also, taking time for activities that you enjoy and that help alleviate stress is key, whether that’s exercise, mindfulness, or creative hobbies.
As Buku mentioned, finding a community that supports and enables you to talk about your mental health freely is so important. Head to Movember for more information on how to support someone going through a hard time and resources to connect them with a professional who can help.
If men’s health is important to you, join Movember’s petition and push for more government action around vital men’s health issues.
Join the Movember movement. Together, we can advocate for more action around men’s health.
Image Credit: Darrian Traynor / Stringer
The post Why Western Bulldogs’ Buku Khamis Wants To Raise Mental Health Awareness For Men appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
