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Men place emphasis on health

The importance of men’s mental health and wellbeing will be reinforced over the coming days, as men’s health organisations celebrate Men’s Health Week.

Entities such as Headspace, Alive and Kicking Goals and Men’s Outreach planned to come together to launch the week-long event and promote messages of positive mental and physical health to men in the Kimberley.

Kullari Men’s Health co-ordinator David Pigram, who has worked in men’s health since 2005, said it was important to change men’s perceptions about accessing help for their health.

Mr Pigram has worked tirelessly to promote a “safe environment” for men to access support and reach out to people in remote communities.

He was instrumental in developing Broome’s men’s group in 2007, where members gathered regularly to share stories and promote new strategies in men’s health.

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service Council healthy lifestyle promotion officer David Batty has worked for the organisation for six years and previously worked as the school health co-ordinator supporting the region’s indigenous people.

Mr Batty said he was currently launching an innovative program called Nuff of the Puff to help tackle smoking in the community, and found his job challenging but rewarding.

The Kullari ATSI Men’s Health group will host a healthy tucker session at Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service this Wednesday at 4pm to celebrate international men’s health week.

This is a male-only event. BRAMS also holds men’s health clinics every Wednesday at 5pm for a free health check.