A primary care approach for hard to reach regional, rural and remote men.
We go to where the blokes are!
Regional, rural and remote men are regarded as having a critical need, as the determinates of rural male health and wellbeing are multifaceted and interact with each other. Engaging with men on their terms and building community capacity through networking and partnering allows us to go where the blokes are. Our approach is community driven. All events we attend are organised by local community groups, other relevant agencies and sometimes passionate individuals.
Language
We use appropriate language, which is clear, concise, uses humour, speaking to blokes not at them.
We have de-medicalised how we speak about physical, mental and social/spiritual wellbeing.
One example of this, is our mental health and wellbeing gauge. This explains situational distress that describes a stage in our mental health and wellbeing that gives us permission to be in a space between being well and being diagnosed with a mental illness.
The adoption of this language resonates with blokes and communities and fosters change to take personal responsibility for our own wellbeing and health.
Primary Care
Our focus is on an inclusive responsibility that everyone has a primary care role in family, community group and workplace. Our focus is always ordinary people caring for each other and looking out for their mates. RMHI acts as a bridge of support and education to regional men, local communities and health services.
“Talk to a Mate”® involves identifying who our mates are and why it is important for us to tap into the capacity of community. Our motto ...before it gets too much…Talk to a Mate!!® is the basis of all our initiatives. Mateship, empathy and appropriate use of humour is the key to connectedness in our programs and presentations.