Kids Helpline has issued a quiet but firm alarm as International Men’s Health Week kicks off—urging families, communities and institutions to rethink how boys and young men are supported through mental health challenges.
Despite growing awareness campaigns and efforts to remove the stigma around mental wellbeing, data from May 2025 paints a troubling picture. Of all young people who reached out to the national 24/7 Kids Helpline service, just 21% were male. That’s 57 boys and young men per day—compared with 195 female contacts. The imbalance isn’t just numerical. It points to a deeper issue of culture, identity and silence.
Tracy Adams, CEO of yourtown, which operates the Helpline, says too many young men are still being quietly conditioned to keep things to themselves.
“Unfortunately, young males aged between 15 and 18 are the least likely to seek help,” said Adams. “The problem isn’t that they don’t feel pain or anxiety—it’s that they’ve internalised the idea that seeking support is somehow weak. So they wait, often until it becomes a crisis.”
This week, Adams and her team are urging communities to take stock—not just of services available, but of the messages boys are absorbing every day. From schoolyards to sports clubs, from video games to dinner tables, young males are still navigating social norms that reward silence over openness.
“Many boys—though certainly not all—have trouble talking about emotions and feelings because social norms have encouraged them to conform to a masculine ideal that emphasises values like stoicism, toughness and competitiveness,” Adams explained. “These social dynamics have long-term implications for their mental health.”
Interestingly, the largest group of male callers are aged 19 to 25—an indication that some young men do come forward eventually, but often only after leaving the pressure cooker of adolescence. According to Kids Helpline data, this cohort makes up 37% of all male contacts.
Why are the teenage years so fraught? Experts point to a number of factors: the onset of identity crises, academic and social pressure, exposure to online bullying, and the challenge of navigating masculinity in a rapidly changing world. Boys are often expected to “man up” just as they are struggling to figure out what that even means.
While the statistics may be bleak, the service remains optimistic. “We need to twist the prism a little bit about how boys view mental health and their own emotional health,” Adams said. “The language has to change, the environment has to change, and the adults in their lives need to model vulnerability too.”
Kids Helpline offers a professional, free, confidential service 24 hours a day. It isn’t just about crisis management—it’s also a space to explore feelings, develop self-awareness, and find tools to cope with stress or strong emotions. And crucially, it’s built to be non-judgemental and inclusive.
International Men’s Health Week may be only one calendar event. But for the team at Kids Helpline, it’s a chance to turn a moment into a movement. “As a community, weeks like these give us a great opportunity to engage with boys and young men about their wellbeing,” Adams said.
The service continues to urge parents, teachers and mentors to take a proactive approach—whether it’s encouraging casual conversations, spotting early signs of emotional withdrawal, or simply being available without pressure.
For boys navigating their way through identity, expectations, and emotion, knowing there’s someone to talk to—even anonymously—can make all the difference.
Kids Helpline is available for anyone aged 5 to 25, via 1800 55 1800 or online at www.kidshelpline.com.au.
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