Professor John Macdonald from the Australasian Men's Health Forum has announced that five Australian men commit suicide each day compared with just one woman, calling for urgent investigation into a national men's health policy.
Health professionals, indigenous leaders and other groups met at Parliament House in Canberra today to discuss the need for such a policy.

Before the November election Health Minister Nicola Roxon announced a Labor government would develop a men's health policy to complement the women's policy created 20 years ago.

"Five men a day kill themselves in our country, one woman," Professor Macdonald said.

"That's atrocious - what's the country doing with that now?"

He said it was very old men and those between the ages of 25 and 55 who were killing themselves and there was no national consciousness about it. And what more convenient timing than the reports today of the suicide of an 81 year old Gold Coast man who committed suicide with a robot built from plans off the internet (Click here for story)

"If it were five whales a day ... we'd be out there pushing them back into the sea," he said.

"But five males a day, who knows? Who cares? There's something strange happening."

Prof Macdonald said the assumption in the community that men were doing well and did not need any extra help was false. A national men's health policy, he claimed, would bring men's issues to the fore and ensure those were appropriately addressed.

Psychologist and author Elizabeth Celi said it would be simplistic if that policy just focused on physical problems.

"Physical, psychological, social and family health (must be included) when it comes to a national men's health policy," she said.

Dr Celi also stressed that simple gender differences on health matters must be recognized. "There are specific needs that men have with regards to their health.

"And it's something that does need to be acknowledged and recognised on a national level so that as leaders of the country we can all be guided forward with that and really have efficient and effective services to meet their needs."

Prof Macdonald said the issues fathers face when they are separated from their children during family break-ups must also be addressed.

Tags: suicide