Anthony Hart will be the guest speaker at the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health’s 2019 SA Men’s Health Business Breakfast.

Hart is the Director of the Hart Retail Group, which includes an eight store PETstock franchise, as well as Hart Wellbeing SA.

Hart will talk about how he transformed his own mental health crises into a new opportunity. He harnessed his business acumen to identify the basic steps he used to recover from depression and devise strategies to actively measure his healing journey.

As a result, he founded Hart Wellbeing and developed the Lifeback Tracker – 4 Steps to Better Mind Health program. The four steps are based on what the evidence tells us is important for good mental health: talking through our problems, good sleep, regular physical activity and reducing alcohol intake.

Hart is now collaborating with SA businesses to offer LIfeBack Tracker to workforces, helping to build a culture that recognises vulnerability and encourages open communication.

The Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health is based at the University of Adelaide and operates in partnership with Freemasons SA/NT.

Director of the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health (FFCMH), Professor Gary Wittert said FFCMH research shows that men have a particular preference for how they monitor and manage their health and this extends to mental health.

“Many men prefer to self manage, but they need the tools to do that,” Wittert said.

“This is where programs such as Lifeback Tracker, and a number of evidence based APPs and programs can be useful but these need to be readily available.”

Sadly, the statistics remain alarming.

Suicide is the leading killer of men under the age of 55 in Australia. It takes the lives of eight people every day; two women and six men.

According to the latest SA Men’s Health report card, released by the Australian Men’s Health Forum in June, the rate of male suicide in South Australia is higher than the national average.

Freemasons SA/NT Grand Master Dr Neil Jensen will join the FFCMH Principal Patron Dr Roger Sexton AM at the breakfast. Sexton, who is also Chairman of Beston Global Food Company Ltd, said leaders of business know what it takes to drive change, how to leverage opportunities and how to remove barriers in order to be successful.

“The causes of poor mental health are complex, demanding a multi-faceted approach,” Sexton said.  “Business can contribute meaningfully to the approach. This includes ensuring that members of our work force feel comfortable in taking time off to seek the help they need and having information and programs available in the workplace to educate and to prompt help-seeking action.”

The breakfast is on Thursday 26 September 2019 at Adelaide Oval. Tickets (individual and tables of 8) may be booked online at samhbb2019.eventbrite.com.au.  Any proceeds from the Breakfast directly support the men’s health research program of the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health.