Refugee men in Australia have a higher likelihood of depression and mental distress compared to other men who are also at risk of chronic conditions. or signup to continue reading The Real Face of Men's Health report released by the Movember Institute of Men's Health and Welcoming Australia on Wednesday found around $10.7 billion in 2023 was spent on healthcare to treat five conditions that cause the most years life lost in men.
They are coronary heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke and suicide. Suicide is the leading cause of death among men aged 15-44 in Australia regardless of their background. Between 2020 and 2022, suicide was the third-leading cause of premature death among men of across all age categories.
A total of 1658 men were polled on their health and if they see a GP or go to a hospital. Some 77 per cent those of African descent in the survey said gender stereotypes of masculinity affected their decisions of not being attentive to their health. Western Bulldogs AFL player Buku Khamis came to Australia from Sudan as a refugee in 2006.
He understands how heavy the psychological burden of seeing people killed in the protracted civil war in Sudan and growing up in refugee camps affects young men in his South Sudanese community. "In my experience, many men in migrant and refugee communities hesitate to seek help for mental health issues - that's certainly true for some of my mates and family," he said. "There's often a stigma arou.