This Movember I am raising funds to support Mens mental health.   As many of you would know Mens mental health is something I’m very passionate about. The world/society that we live in is an oppressive one, not only for women but for men and other genders also.   Growing up as a young man with a single mum I felt the ever strong pressure of the world that I had to be the “Man of the House” I had to hold my emotions back to appear strong and resilient. This wasn’t something I was good at nor was I able to fit into the stereotype of what a man was supposed to be or what I saw of it anyway (Physically strong, kind of aggressive, able to physically fight etc). This was hugely challenging for me growing up and with this feeling of failure as a man grew my mental health also struggled. I felt so isolated and alone, I felt as though I was the only man in the world that could express my emotions, that cried, that felt things as deeply as I did, this was something I really struggled with until I was well into my twenties when I found my first sacred mens circle at a festival in Tasmania.   There are a lot of men out there feeling the way I’ve felt and much much worse, really hurting, who have been affected far worse than I have that still have not been able to find the tools and supports to move through this and instead turn to destructive behaviours which hurt others and themselves whether that’s through domestic violence (which I’ve experienced first hand), assaults of all kinds, alcohol and drug abuse, self harm and suicide (we loose 7 men to suicide every single day in Australia) or any other destructive behaviour. We need to find a new way, a better way to fight the toxic masculinity in this world that’s fuelled by the patriarchy.   So please help me raise much needed funds to help men with mental health which ultimately helps us all live a happier safer life.