MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH GOES LIVE

For father of five Fabio Paderno, the death of a close friend to suicide inspired him to launch a community radio program encouraging men to get talking about mental health.

Mr Paderno said his show The Blue Corner has been running for two months and features health and wellness practitioners, as well as people who share their mentalhealth journeys.

“Each week I develop a bit of a banner about what we’re going to discuss, the premise of the show is based around men’s mental health, but it’s broader than that, it includes everyone,” he said.

“The show airs Monday evenings at 7.30pm on Apollo Bay Radio. We look at specific stuff for men, how comfortable they feel to come forward and talk, and also the tools and techniques that are available at the same time.”

Mr Paderno said he is not a “psychologist by any means” but did migrate to Australia from Italy with his family and faced a lot of adversity growing up in Melbourne during the 60s.

“I was born in Italy and came out and faced a lot of adversity out here, I grew up in Western Melbourne and I know the hidings we copped. I used to look at it and think, how can a human do this to another human? We all bleed red,” he said.

At a cross roads in life as a young adult Mr Paderno credits the encouragement of a couple of really good teachers and karate teachers who kept him on the right path.

“They said I needed to have a look at myself and what I had going. I ended up becoming the Victorian operations manager for The Age and worked in the corporate field for over 15 years. I channelled my energy to make a contribution to society.”

Mr Paderno now owns and runs Coastal Yoga & Kitchen Medicine in Apollo Bay and said he hopes the show can also guide people and help them connect with thetools they need.

“I’m trying to create a platform of discussion. I don’t think anyone can help someone else, the only person that can help you is you, but we can give them the support and tools to do that.”

For more information head to 3abr.org and click listen live or go to yogaandfoodasmedicineretreats.com, alternatively search “Coastal Yoga & Kitchen Medicine Apollo Bay” on Facebook.