The Barstool Brothers program is linking arms in solidarity with Kiama Leagues Club to help build communities of people who “understand and are aware of their mental health”.

Starting on 13 July, they will be holding a free monthly brunch at Cedar Cutters Sports Bar.

Within the Kiama districts and its community, there are many programs and events supporting men’s mental health and this monthly brunch shapes up to be another pillar of strength.

Raising The Bar Foundation general manager Daniel Chin said the Barstool Brothers program, established in 2019, aims to provide mental illness relief within society by “building communities of people who understand and are aware of their own mental health around them”.

“We want to effectively run events that remove as many barriers as possible, and one of those is financial. It is important to have a great partner like the Kiama Leagues Club and make it possible for everyone to attend,” Chin said.

Kiama Leagues Club marketing manager Madeline Battagello said they wanted to be further involved with community organisations like Raising the Bar Foundation by facilitating gatherings.

“There are a lot of men’s health initiatives popping up, so it is at the forefront of everyone’s mind and receiving a lot of interest,” Batagello said.

One of the key messages in the findings from the study Ten to Men: The Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health is that mental ill-health remains high among Australian men, with up to 25% experiencing a diagnosed mental health disorder in their lifetime, and 15% experiencing a disorder in a 12-month period.

“What we want to do is put a spot out there for blokes to get together and build those connections in a bit more of a natural situation,” Chin said.

“That’s really important for us to make it as easy as possible and as accessible as possible. People hear mental health sometimes and can get quite intimidated.

“It is exciting to be able to get out there and start reaching some of the guys in the Kiama community that may be struggling with their mental health.”

Battagello added: “Mental health can be quite a pressing issue for people who work crazy hours and shifts, and we’re sort of working with how we can host that here, open it up to the community with more of their events.”

The monthly brunch starts on Sunday 13 July at 10:30am in Cedar Cutters Sports Bar, with free coffee and bacon and egg rolls for attendees.

For more information head to www.kiamaleagues.com/events/kiama-monthly-brunch.

If you or anyone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.