Throughout his life Fred has always been the captain of his own ship. As a business owner he had a lot of confidence in his abilities and was regarded as an upstanding citizen in his local community.
When he was in his mid-50s, Fred found himself in a situation where a business partnership soured and he was forced to retire early.
He describes his retirement as going from “the boss to the feather duster”. Fred felt he’d lost his sense of identity and this impacted his mental health.
In this episode, Fred talks about this experience for the first time. He has chosen a pseudonym for this reason.
We also hear from Anthony Hegarty from TOMNET, The Older Mens Network based out of Toowoomba in Queensland. Anthony supports men into retirement, helping them find meaning and purpose again.
This episode contains discussions of difficult subject matter. Please take care while listening. Below are contacts and links to mental health support services (Australia-wide):
- Lifeline – 13 11 14 | www.lifeline.org.au
- Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 | www.beyondblue.org.au
- Older Persons Mental Health Services – Check with your local health district
- Carer Gateway – 1800 422 737 | Support for those caring for older adults
- Head to Health – www.headtohealth.gov.au for finding local mental health services
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