Working Together for Men's Health

LifestyleMigrainesNeurofeedback

15 June

Written By Emily Goss

Men’s Health Week

15th – 21st June 2020

The general theme for life at the moment seems to be ‘togetherness’, there is:

COVID-19: ‘We’re all in this together’

Reconciliation Week: ‘In this together’

Even the ATO wants us to know we are ‘working together’

…and now, in June, Men’s Health Week: ‘Working Together for Men’s Health’

In a tough time, it seemed easy to take the well-worn start of looking at the definitions of working, together and ‘working together’ to help frame what this theme actually means. All the while considering, why do we still need to be told to work together? Are we all still trying to get on board with it because we all define the deeper meaning of ‘working together’ differently?

Let’s start with WORKING, beyond paid employment, working is…

…functioning or able to function.

…the action of doing work.

…the way in which a machine, organisation or system operates.

TOGETHER is characterised by: close proximity; companionship; and close association. Together is relationships, it is side-by-side and shoulder-to-shoulder stuff.

‘WORKING TOGETHER’ has been a catchcry for so long it has its own working definitions of: collaboration; cooperation; and team work. At its best, ‘working together’ might be the ambitious esprit de corps, ‘a sense of unity and enthusiasm for a shared responsibility of interest’.

Bound together, these definitions are tied to the need for collaboration and cooperation in order for us and our relationships to function or, better yet, work well. This is great, but not especially insightful or inspiring, and not particularly actionable.

Feeling a tad diluted instead of strengthened about the repetitive ‘working together’ focus, by chance, a light, there at the very end of a very good read, were emails exchanged between Adam Hills and Billy Connolly. These felt like a neon sign to look further for ‘working together’ wisdom from notable men.

So we start with wise COMEDY - excerpts from the emails between Adam and Billy:

“It occurred to me you have popped up at just the right time, to say the right thing to send me on my way. I wanted to let you know how much those little nuggets of wisdom mean.”

To which Billy responds:

“Your success in Britain makes me very happy. It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. I love your Ozzie optimism.”

Makes you think, it is how we communicate and act together that truly defines what ‘working together’ is. Like letters, emails or a good conversation - it is as much in the give, as it is in the response. It’s as much in sharing, as it is in replying. If you put something out there, what comes back can either build or break you.

When it’s togetherness we are after, we want to build each other every time.

So what do other smart men have to say to build us up about working together?

NASA

In a substantial coffee table book entitled: WISDOM, Buzz Aldrin sheds light on both working together and anxiety. He offers up this profound insight that stretches far beyond Mars exploration:

“Do we really know how to live in harmony with a small group of people? It’s probably one of the more difficult things that we’ll have to face, rather than maybe radiation or bone deconditioning or whatever [the Mars mission brings]. It is how you get along with the people you’re supposed to be working with.”

Seems it’s a universal challenge this ‘working together’, something with both near and distant consequences. Perhaps we experience fear, in varying degrees, when we seek help to work on something and effectively ‘put ourselves out there’. We may be anxious because of our perceived risk of judgement, misunderstanding, criticism or bullying if we speak up.

“Fear is a paralysing emotion. People who deal with dangerous situations, learn they have to control that and concentrate on the better paths that can be selected.”

What if ‘working together’ meant there was no risk of judgement, misunderstanding, criticism or bullying – what if universally we recognised that at some level we ALL feel the same apprehension when we share our stories, and that what we all want is to work together to build a better life for us all.

NASA recognised the potential of human fears impact on the success or failure of space missions. NASA first developed the EEG technologies used in QEEG Brain Scans and Neurofeedback to assess and train lunar astronauts. Investment and intriguing advances of these technologies continues, with applications for both brain health and future space missions.

ADF

Resilience is a subject that Defence believes is critical in its work. Preparing soldiers for leaving and, as significantly, for coming home. A Senior Commander contributes in the 2015 Parliamentary Paper – Changing attitudes to mental illness in the Australian Defence Force: a long way to go:

“I believe it is important to include group resilience in any consideration of mental health. Critically important, group resilience must have substance and depth. It needs the depth of real and genuine investment, not matching sleeve tattoos and t-shirts bearing mythological Greek iconography.”

The growing understanding that the mental health of the individual impacts the group, and vice versa, fosters greater acceptance of the need to focus and dedicate real time to the resilience of all. The SMART Military Resilience programs, like Australia’s BattleSMART and LifeSMART, have been using Biofeedback profiling, and strategies including HRV Biofeedback for years.

AFL

Outstanding sportsman and the driving force behind the inspiring Wirrpanda Foundation - David Wirrpanda – offers his wisdom about learning in an address during Aussie Career Week – Get the life you love!

“I was determined I was going to make a career out of my life, but never put your ticket on life on a ball.”

David’s life in the AFL, and beyond, became his education. He goes on to say about how he taught himself, and how what he learnt led to the development of the Wirrpanda Foundation.

“The West Coast Eagles Football Club became my school. I was desperate to learn, those men were my teachers and I’d ask the questions. I used to walk into the CEO’s office and asked the CEO of West Coast ‘What makes you the CEO of this football club? Why? Why are you the best?’ I went down to the marketing department and asked them ‘Why is West Coast the most powerful club in the AFL?’ I got to meet Jack Cowin, the billionaire owner of Hungry Jacks and Burger King, and I said to him ‘How do I own Hungry Jack’s?’…and that was what I used to do, I wanted to know.”

David’s presentation suggests ‘working together’ means asking questions, getting good answers, listening to them, and putting the knowledge into action.

The AFL are growing ambassadors for mindfulness programs like Manage Your Mind and Practical Mindfulness. The Smiling Mind program Mind Max is the collaborative work of: Smiling Mind; the AFL Players Association; RUOK; the University of Queensland; and the Movember Foundation. ‘Working together’ means making space for working on well-being, and making it ok to take the time to take care of ourselves.

So, from the insights of just a few wise men, it seems ‘working together’ involves so many things. From considering what we say and how we respond, to how we get along with those we are working with; from developing group resilience to being prepared to ask the questions and really do something with the answers.

Looking after our mental health is something we should be doing EVERY day, for ourselves and for each other. Building resilience in the good times, so when the tough times come, and they do, we have a stock pile of strength and skills to get us through. We can work together with knowledgeable health Teams, like The Perth Brain Centre, where all of the amazing programs detailed above are available in one helpful place.

Perhaps life works because we work at it, and working together is our best bet.

About the author - Ms. Emily Goss (Occupational Therapist, Senior Clinician, The Perth Brain Centre).