By Deanne Jeffers
DALE Wright is a strong believer that without a best friend to count on, one’s spirit diminishes. He said, “When you haven’t got a best mate, your connection is lost.”
Recognising the absence of connection in some men’s lives, and the life situations that can lead to stress, isolation, depression and anxiety, Dale and his friend Kevin Sidebottom started their men’s health group initiative, Talking Straight, over 24 years ago and it’s still going strongly today.
Commenting on past participant’s involved in the program, Dale said, “The change is incredible. A lot of participant’s families or mates say there is something about them that’s different, and they can’t describe what it is. We know what it is, they’ve learnt to understand who they are.”
“The scariest thing for men can be finding out who they are themselves. To love who they are. The men here find out that the only way to get anywhere is to love who they are first.”
Since starting Talking Straight, more than 240 men of all ages have completed the 13-week Warrior Training Program.
“The group has changed my mindset back to a glass half full, not a glass half empty person. The friends I’ve made in the group I will have forever, and it was great to sit together and talk about everyday things that men don’t usually talk about and to not be judged,” said participant, James Crawford.
Groups are capped at around 10, with limited places remaining for this years’ program. Young men aged 17-39 are invited to participate, make new mates, and learn tools to cope with work, financial or family stressors, relationship break downs, anxiety and depression and other circumstances that life may hold for us.
“We want to encourage men to do something, confront how you’re feeling, don’t give up on your mates and come together for better outcomes,” said Dale.
Warrior Training Program runs on Tuesday evenings with a weekend trip during the course. It is free, with the only commitment being your word to show up. If this is something you would like to benefit from, enquire by phoning Dale Wright on 5821 1864.
