Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Across the Northern Beaches many men experience challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, isolation, relationship breakdown, addiction, work pressures, grief or major life transitions. For many men, asking for help can feel difficult, whether that's due to stigma, uncertainty about where to turn or a belief that they should cope alone. That's why I'm so proud of the work being done by the Northern Beaches Men's Wellbeing Collective.

The Northern Beaches Men's Wellbeing Collective is a trusted network of local men's community health organisations operating across the Northern Beaches to improve the lives of men through compassion, connection and community driven action. These organisations offer a wide range of support, from early intervention and prevention programs, to fundraising, mentoring, peer connection, counselling, crisis assistance and pathways to recovery. Each organisation has a different focus and approach, but all share a common goal: helping men feel supported, connected and empowered to take care of their mental and emotional wellbeing.

The Northern Beaches Men's Wellbeing Collective was born out of a men's mental health roundtable I hosted in July 2024 which identified the need for local men's groups to come together on a regular basis to share ideas and resources and to increase public awareness of local services and support for men and their loved ones. The collective is supported by the Sydney North Health Network, the Northern Sydney Local Health District, Northern Beaches Community Health Services and the Northern Beaches Mental Health Interagency, who are all member organisations.

I'd like to recognise the 10 local men's organisations, many of them volunteer run, and thank them for their commitment to fostering a connected and resilient community of men by normalising help-seeking, increasing awareness of supports and providing accessible pathways to health resources and services. My deepest thankyous go to Man Anchor, ManUnplugged, Mentoring Men, Mongrels Men Health and Wellbeing, MoWaNa Northern Beaches Safe Space, Northern Beaches CARES, Pittwater Offshore Men's Shed, Proveda, Saltwater Veterans and Lifeline Northern Beaches. On behalf of the people of Mackellar, I thank you for the wonderful work that you do, and continue to do, in supporting the men and families of the Northern Beaches.

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