New app for young men's mental health

A new online mental health app was launched last week targeted specifically to young men.

The Work Out app was developed by the Inspire Foundation and the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI).

The app is designed to encourage young men with mental health issues to seek help.

Launching the app, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler said, “About one in four young people aged between 16 and 24 experience a mental disorder, yet more than 80 per cent of young men do not seek the help they need, often because of stigma or they feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness.

“They are more likely to try and ‘tough it out’ or may turn to alcohol and illicit drugs to mask the symptoms of depression or other mental illnesses.”

The Work Out app allows young men to assess their mental fitness anonymously and comfortably by taking them through a 'man-friendly' survey. It then guides them through setting goals for better mental health.

The site also contains videos with titles such as "Missions" "Handling Pressure" and "Taking Control".

"Targeting aspects of your thinking, such as your confidence, your practicality, your control, and your ability to handle pressure, WorkOut sets you a personalised exercise routine that’s easy to understand and proven to work," the website states.

It also contains information on the Inspire Foundation and BMRI.

Butler also pointed out the federal government had doubled its funding for community led suicide prevention activities which target at risk groups including men.

Surveys have shown that same-sex attracted young men are at much higher risk of depression and self harm than their straight counterparts, while transgender people are the most at-risk group of all.