Monty the Man Van: Perth's Mobile Lifeline for Men's Mental Health Support
In a heartfelt response to the silent crisis of men's mental health, Paul Litwin from Scarborough has transformed a simple van into a beacon of hope for Perth's male community. Known as "Monty the Man Van," this innovative mobile outreach service is designed to meet men where they are, offering a safe and informal space for honest conversations about mental well-being.
From Personal Loss to Community Action
Paul Litwin, a 60-year-old former teacher, was driven to action after tragically losing three friends to suicide. In 2021, he began by setting up a modest table with a sign outside Bunnings Melville, a location he knew would attract men passing by, where he provided free conversations and support. This grassroots effort evolved into the establishment of Men's Talk, a charity dedicated to dismantling the stigma surrounding men's mental health, with physical spaces in Scarborough and Busselton offering a wide range of support services and resources.
However, recognizing that many men might not seek help in traditional settings, Paul and his team launched Monty the Man Van. This mobile initiative aims to bridge the gap by bringing support directly to men in their everyday environments, such as Men's Sheds, shopping centres, workplaces, and sports clubs.
Tailored Support for Every Stage of Life
The charity's approach is deeply personalised, drawing on the principles of German-American psychologist Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development. Paul emphasises that the challenges faced by a teenager graduating high school differ vastly from those of a new father or someone retiring. By customising support to address these unique life stages, Men's Talk ensures that each individual receives relevant and effective assistance.
"We really try to personalise support and approach each man in a way that meets them where they are at in life," Paul explained. The van provides a relaxed alternative to formal clinical settings, allowing men to talk freely without appointments or pressure, and connects them with additional services if needed.
Addressing a National Crisis
In Australia, nine people die by suicide each day, with seven of them being men. Paul highlights a stark disparity: the number of men lost to suicide is nearly double the national road death toll, yet public awareness and campaigns for mental health lag behind those for road safety. "Everyone is running around saying we're in 'crisis mode' over road death tolls, yet there's around double that amount of men killing themselves and it's all sort of brushed aside. Our silence is the problem," he stated.
Through his dedicated work, Paul was recently honoured as one of five Community Legends nationally in the Bunnings Community Legends Awards, which celebrate Australians who enhance community pride, inclusion, resilience, or well-being. He hopes this recognition will amplify conversations about men's mental health on a broader scale. "The recognition I get is not about me and it's not about us. It's about the bigger picture," Paul said. "I think it's about the awareness that we're then creating. And to say 'You know what, we need to talk about men's mental health in a much more extended way'."
Future Expansion and Impact
Men's Talk aspires to expand its reach by developing a fleet of Monty vans and is currently in discussions with the Mental Health Commission to further scale the model. By continuing to provide accessible, stigma-free support, Paul and his team are committed to ensuring that no man feels alone in his struggles. "We will never accept this as business as usual. No man should be lost to suicide; as a community, we simply need to do a whole lot better," he affirmed.
For immediate support, Lifeline Australia can be reached at 13 11 14.
