Lily Plass
21 October 2024, 1:40 AM
Men in Cobar and Coonamble have good chances of sharing a meal over a Men's Table in their area.Â
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Western NSW Regional Men's Table Host Al Stratton is looking to establish a space where men meet monthly and are encouraged to share their feelings over a meal with a small number of other participants in these areas.Â
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"Our motto is to go beyond banter. We don't just talk about the footy scores," Mr Stratton said.
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"We talk about what's happening in our lives on a personal and deep level.
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"They can hear from the experiences of other men and feel vulnerable which is really unique," he said.
 Al Stratton is a participant of the Men's Table himself. Photo supplied
In 2023, there were 2,419 men who committed suicide in Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).Â
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"I think isolation is definitely a challenge, particularly for people in rural communities out on farms and properties," Mr Stratton said.Â
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Participants are required to maintain a level of confidentiality.
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"People do gossip and we don't want the men's table to become a point where people are talking about each other's business."Â
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On average the Men's Table only hosts around eight participants at a time.Â
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Mr Stratton said they try to keep the participation numbers below twelve to preserve the intimacy.Â
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"Once you get a larger group, some people become a little more hesitant to share," Mr Stratton said.Â
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He has been joining the Men's Table as a participant for the past three years.Â
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"It's been really helpful for me personally. That's what inspired me to get other tables started," Mr Stratton said.Â
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The Men's Table has been around since 2011 when founder Beb Hughes held a dinner with the intention of connecting with other men.Â
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Eight tables already exist in NSW including in Orange, Bathurst, Mudgee, Dubbo, Parkes, and Canowindra.Â
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Mr Stratton is looking to partner with local men's and women's health organisations to expand the opportunities available.
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"Women are one of the best referrers. They're pretty much responsible for getting half of the participants to the Men's Table," Mr Stratton said.Â
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If you feel you are struggling with any of the topics mentioned in this article, contact the crisis support services below.Â
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