Inequality in men's health 

www.daileyexaminer.com.au Saturday, March 14, 2009

Comment Graham Orams graham.orams@...

Gee I'd like a dollar for every time Iv'e written about men's issues being given a lower priority by governments. Today's page one story is just another example of that.

It's not enough that Frderal Governments have allowed much more public money to be ploughed into research into women's diseases, now they don't even see the issue of men's suicide as important enough to fund grass-roots organisations working tirelessly to help.

Dads in Distress (DIDS) was founded to help men-many at the point of suicide-to emerge from the other side of a traumatic experience intact.

Unfortunately for us blokes, men are an easy target for governments to withdraw or withhold funding because they know we're less likely to jump up and down about it.

I congratulate women's groups on being so organised and successful. They get loud, get heard and get results.

However, that doesn't excuse our governments for bowing to pressure when they should instead be using some integrity.

I advocate passionately for men's issues because so few do. Tony miller and our local DIDS coordinator Paul dwyer know how important it is for men to take some inspiration from women and get off their bums and get heard too.

I am disgusted at the way our political system often handles important men's issues. Our politicians need to begin to treat issues like health with genuine equality.

'Our governments should instead be using some integrity'

Graham Orams Daily Examiner

Men's health service 'faces closure without funds'

Posted Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:22pm AEDT

A Coffs Harbour based men's suicide prevention group says it will close within months if funding is not recommitted.

Dads In Distress provides assistance for men dealing with the trauma of divorce or separation and operates a 1300 telephone crisis line.

The group's founder, Tony Miller, says it seems strange the Federal Government has not announced a national men's health policy yet and a national suicide prevention organisation is about to close.

He says there are very few services left for men.

"We operate out of Melbourne ... Sydney ... and we operate on the north coast region - they're all gone," Mr Miller said.

"We've put around four people off that are full-time and a number of part-time people.

"We've still got volunteers around the country and we still run groups around the country, but as far as backup and support to those groups and volunteers, it's all ended - it's over."