Paul Peacock is the coordinator of Richmond Wellbeing’s men’s mental health and wellbeing program called Bouncing Back. The program was developed by Richmond Wellbeing’s CEO Adrian Munro in response to the loss of a fellow club member at Kalamunda Cricket Club – and is delivered with the support of the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia.
The program goes to sporting clubs around Perth – and hopefully, soon, regional WA as well – aiming to break down the stigma about discussing mental health, particularly among men.
“Men… we’re not very good at this thing!” Paul says. “A lot of the time, by the time somebody’s realised something is wrong, it’s too late.”
The father of two has had his own challenges with anxiety and depression throughout his entire life, and uses that experience to connect with his audience.
Paul spoke to Nadia Mitsopolous on the ABC Perth Breakfast Program about the importance of mental health and wellbeing and supporting each other. Listen as he describes his own ‘lightbulb’ moment, how the program works to break down barriers – and the time he managed to baffle a Lifeline call-taker with a question they’d never been asked before!
Listen to the full interview here.
With many people feeling their mental health has worsened this year, the ABC is delivering content across its television, radio and digital services, such as ABC iview and listen, to show all Australians that small changes can make a big difference to their wellbeing. Richmond Wellbeing is proud to provide support to the mental health and wellbeing of Western Australians – and to share our stories as part of the ABC’s Your Mental Health initiative.
