Some emotions are simply part of being human. Anger, resentment, stress—we all feel them at different times. The challenge is what happens when men keep those emotions bottled up. As Dan explains, “If you keep going and hold all those things inside, things are just going to get worse.”
That’s why Dan is passionate about the work of Top Blokes. He sees it as an early intervention helping young men take simple steps each day to look after themselves and each other. “Are you checking in with yourself? Are you checking in with your mates?” he asks. “That’s going to create a whole heap of change which stops us from getting to that crisis point.”
Why Lift the Load resonates
For Dan, the Lift the Load campaign paints a clear picture. “The weight of poor mental health can start off small, but then it’s going to build and build and build. So the quicker we can jump on it and do something about it, the easier it’s going to be to shed that.”
When someone puts on the vest, they’re showing others they understand, they care, and they’re open to listening. “When you put the vest on, you are showing someone that, “it’s okay, I understand”.
Who Dan lifts for
Dan’s motivation is deeply personal. “For me, I like to lift a load for my daughters and my wife. For me I’m looking after myself, being present and being the best version of myself that I can be for them.”
But the vest also carries a broader meaning. “You can do it for your own story or you can do it in support to say, I see you, I’m here for you, and I support you. I think that’s really powerful.”
Join Lift the Load
Dan’s story reminds us that we don’t have to carry the weight of poor mental health alone. By checking in with ourselves, reaching out to our mates, and being open about what we’re going through, we can stop small burdens from becoming overwhelming ones.
Join the challenge this October’s Mental Health Month at www.lifttheload.org.au.
