THE ODDS ARE NOT GREAT FOR MEN
The facts paint a grim picture for men’s health in 2021, which makes it all the more important for men, both young and old, to regularly see their doctor for a check-up
IT’S no surprise that I’m a betting man. And like most punters, I like it when the odds are stacked in my favour, not against me.
Right now, if you look at the odds, you wouldn’t punt on the majority of men making it to a decent age. The facts paint a grim picture for men in Australia in 2021.
One in eight suffers from depression. One in five lives with anxiety. One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the time they are 85. Seven out of every nine suicides are committed by men.
That’s why we are hosting the inaugural Men Matter Raceday at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday June 26. Enough is enough.
At times a simple chat with a friend on how you are feeling might be a massive help.
We urgently need to take the stigma away from men asking for help and raise awareness among men, young and old, that they need to regularly go to the doctor for a check-up.
Men are not good at looking after themselves. Unlike women who are smart about their health, men don’t go to
We urgently need to take the stigma away from men asking for help and raise awareness among men, young and old, that they need to regularly go to the doctor for a check- up.
the doctor anywhere near enough.
Up until when I turned 50, three years ago, at best I’d visit the doctor once every five years. And I’m someone who should know better. Both my grandfathers had prostate cancer. One was detected too late, and he died in his mid60s. The other was caught early and he lived to be 97. That’s how crucial going to the doctor for a check-up is.
Old school blokes live with a false bravado about their health. We stupidly put up with pain, rather than do something about it.
One of the drivers from my earthmoving business last week came to work for two
days while he was silently suffering chest pains. He had a heart attack but kept coming to work. That’s proof of how much we hate going to the doctor.
Like many other elite sports, the racing industry is not immune to having to deal with work-related mental health issues.
A recent Oxford University study found that jockeys are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than people outside the industry.
Racing has the highest concussion rate of any sport in the world. Head injuries can trigger mental health issues. Jockeys, trainers, strappers and owners lose more than they win. Dealing with defeat is not easy. Jockeys sometimes suffer debilitating injuries from race falls or they are constantly having to battle against gaining weight. These days it’s not unusual for owners, trainers
and jockeys to be attacked by horrendous social media trolls because the horse that they backed didn’t win.
And then comes retirement. The quiet, when all the cheering stops. All these things play with the mind and contribute to mental health issues.
Physical and mental health issues don’t care what industry you work in though. They affect all men, of all ages, across all demographics.
The Men Matter Raceday aims to raise a record amount of money for men’s health charities with a fun, action-packed day of live racing, entertainment, raffles, special guest speakers and exclusive event packages. We also have Channel 7 weather presenter Paul Burt and Jake Ellis (Bachelor in Paradise Australia) on board as ambassadors.
There also will be a virtual
auction ahead of the raceday to raise funds for the event beneficiaries: LIVIN, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and The Common Good.
Prizes include a new MG 3 Auto Core car, Waverunner jetski, Hamilton Island holiday package and a State of Origin package.
If we can get 3000 people to the Gold Coast Turf Club on June 26 talking about men’s physical and mental health, we will have taken a huge step towards taking the stigma out of seeking support from a doctor.
This is a first for the Queensland Racing Industry and we expect other venues will see the value and saddle up next year. It is our ambition to build this event through all three race codes statewide and interstate to drive maximum awareness and benefits for everyone.