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Where’s Your Mental Health At?
- Aussie Dadding
- Oct 9, 2025
- 2 min read
“Mental health” gets thrown around so much it can sound like background noise. What does it actually mean when you’re a dad in Australia, juggling work, school runs, and wondering why your kid’s footy boots are always missing one sock? It is not about being “fine” or “not fine.” It is about where your head’s at on an ordinary Tuesday: your mood, patience, sleep, and ability to roll with life (Nerf gun ambushes included).
“Men often think mental health is only about depression or anxiety, yet it’s actually the day-to-day state of your thoughts, emotions, and relationships. Checking in on it regularly is as important as keeping an eye on your physical health,”
What Mental Health Means
Think of it less like a diagnosis and more like a barometer. Mental health is:
Your mood, steady or flat?
Your resilience, bouncing back or stuck?
Your relationships, connecting or drifting?
It is not about constant happiness. It is about how you handle the messy, everyday stuff.
The Levels: Self-Care, Mate-Care, Pro Care
Level One: Manageable
A bit snappy, run-down, or flat. Time for basics: a proper sleep, a walk, a screen break, or saying “no” for once.
Level Two: Struggling
The flatness lingers for weeks. That is the time to talk to a mate, partner, or brother. Keep it casual, the same way you’d mention a sore back.
Level Three: Stuck
Nothing seems to shift it. Irritability, withdrawal, broken sleep, or leaning on booze creep in. That is the time to see your GP (local doctor) or a counsellor. Like a car service, it is not a weakness, it is maintenance.
Signs It’s More Than a Bad Week
Sadness or emptiness that sticks.
Pulling away from people.
Snapping at your kids or partner.
Constant fatigue or no sleep.
Relying on alcohol to cope.
If these outstay a winter flu, it is time to act.
World Mental Health Day is not about hashtags. It is about asking, honestly: where’s my head really at? If the answer is anything less than “pretty good, actually,” that is your cue to recharge, talk, or see a professional.
DADDING IN ACTION |
Today, ask yourself: “Where’s my head really at?” Then tell one person the honest answer. |
Resources:
Raising Men by Eric Davis
Practical advice for fathers to nurture resilience, discipline, and emotional intelligence in sons.
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Classic book on understanding and using emotional awareness for better relationships and health.
Emotional Agility by Susan David
Teaches acceptance and emotional flexibility to improve mental health and resilience.
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