Play to stimulate men’s mental health dialogue

MEN’s mental health will be top of the agenda at a powerful theatre production at the Engine Room on Sunday 3 November starring Australian television royalty John Wood (Blue Heelers, Rafferty’s Rules) and actor and mental health practitioner Chris Pidd.

Brought to you by the Suicide Prevention Awareness Network (SPAN) Central Victoria, Carpe Diem follows a heartfelt conversation between a farmer and a businessman, touching on grief, loss, and depression.

It seeks to encourage men and their families to speak up, seek help and support one another through tough times.

A Q&A session will follow the 45-minute performance with the cast and local mental health advocates discussing some of the themes and takeaways from the play.

SPAN president Rod Flavell said the goal of the event is essentially for people to become comfortable about broaching the issue of family and friends who are “not travelling that well”.

“It’s really about that connection and caring aspect where people feel comfortable around the subject, because going back a few years ago, people didn’t talk about it,” he said.

“The stats from the Black Dog Institute indicate that the national suicide rate is in excess of the road toll, so we’re talking base level of making people aware of the impact of suicides in Victoria over recent years.”

Carpe Diem – Brought to you by SPAN takes place on Sunday 3 November at the Engine Room in View Street from 2pm.

Tickets (selling fast) can be purchased on the Gotix website for $10.