Julian Leeser (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I wish to raise awareness of a new initiative for mentoring men, the 25twoZERO Movement. This initiative aims to reduce male suicide by creating awareness about suicide rates among Australian men. In 2019, over 2,500 Australian men died by suicide. The 25twoZERO Movement aims to cut the number of suicides to zero. The initiative encourages widespread community engagement in physical activity to reduce levels of anxiety and promote wellbeing. The 25twoZERO Movement uses exercise as a common bond for all men and women to take part and make a difference. Team members sign up to walk, cycle, swim, do sit-ups, any form of exercise so long as it has a measurable goal of 2,520 to help people focus on the underlying importance of this movement.

Mentoring Men is raising funds to provide more mentors to prevent men sliding into crisis. Seven hundred men have engaged with Mentoring Men services to date, with an increased demand for its program for the next 12 months. Mentoring Men provides free life mentoring programs for men in the community, and I feel privileged to be an ambassador for Mentoring Men. Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 14 to 44, and 75 per cent of those who die by suicide are men. To support the 25twoZERO movement, donations can be made on the 25twoZERO GoFundMe page. I commend Ian Westmoreland, the founder of Mentoring Men, and everyone involved for this great community initiative.

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