Stop the Stigma

“We believe that Panda can overcome so many barriers to seeking mental wellness help, whether it’s the stigma attached, the often high costs associated, or the user journey of just not knowing where to start,” says Deirdre King, Managing Director of Jacaranda FM.

Users of the Panda app have free access to the ‘Bamboo Forest’, which allows them to engage with a community of other app users who may be facing similar challenges. The app is built to eliminate any perceived shame as users remain anonymous with audio-only peer or expert-facilitated group discussions. Men can also create communities within the Bamboo Forest, aligned with their individual interests or support needs.

“I’ve been a fan of how wide the range of topics is that are being discussed, and how many resources and ideas there are. It’s an incredible range of things,” says Jacaranda FM DJ Rob Forbes (pictured, right), on the app. “I love that you can book a 1-on-1 session. Sometimes just having someone from outside that you can ask about where to look for some ideas, is immensely valuable.”

“I think that conversations about mental health inherently means being vulnerable, and that being vulnerable is not a trait that men are taught to value,” says Rob on why mental health was still a subject that many men shy away from. He was interested in the topic because, as he says, it’s entirely normal to have tough times now and then. “We all do. Yet somehow, we’re only allowed to look after our bodies and not our minds. And that seems silly to me.”

When asked about how we can get over the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, Rob says, “To be blunt, I think confronting yourself about yourself, honestly, and openly, is terrifying. The message that young men get is that our value is about how we interact with the outside world, how we earn money, and start a family, and not how we interact with ourselves. Having feelings is ok, and normal, and they’re allowed to be shared. It’s not ‘weakness’ to be open about how you feel. It’s strength. Our strength, as humans, come from relationships with those around us. That’s what makes us strong.”