A Safe Place For Men To Grieve New Grief Support Group Launches In Mackay

A new Men’s Grief Support Group has been launched in Mackay, offering a safe, confidential space for men who have experienced the loss of someone close to them.

The group is being facilitated by Rod Francisco, Joshua Hart and Nick Bennett, and is designed as a peer support group rather than a counselling or clinical service.

Rod Francisco said the group was created after repeated requests from men in the community looking for a dedicated space to process grief.

“We anticipated that it’s going to take a while to get some traction going, so we’re planning to run it for at least 12 weeks,” Mr Francisco said.

Mr Francisco said to their knowledge, it is the first men’s grief-specific support group of its kind in the region.

“We’re aware there’s been other support groups for things like suicide, but not particularly one for men that are grieving the loss of someone close to them, particularly a partner,” he said.

The group is open to men aged 18 years and over, or younger with an accompanying male adult. Attendance is voluntary, and participants are not required to speak if they are not comfortable.

“It’s a safe space… and it’s a confidential space,” Mr Francisco said.

“It’s an opportunity for them to be in a space where they can express themselves freely through their grieving process.”

Sessions include discussion around what grief is, common and less common responses to grief, and providing a supportive environment where men can listen, share, or simply sit with others who understand.

“Grief for one person is going to be completely different to grief for another person,” Mr Francisco said.

“But there might be some common themes, and sometimes just hearing someone else say something and thinking, ‘Yeah, that’s me too,’ can be really powerful.”

All facilitators are donating their time, and Minds Aligned is providing the venue free of charge.

“The three of us are donating our time, Minds Aligned is donating the space, and it’s free for anybody that wants to come along,” Mr Francisco said.

Mr Francisco said personal experiences with loss also played a role in motivating the group’s creation.

“I’ve recently lost a brother, a mother and a father in the last five years,” he said.

“We’ve all been through that in our lives, and we’re also aware of blokes we interact with socially who’ve lost people close to them and say, ‘I just wish I had someone to talk to. We think that’s incredibly important.”

He encouraged men to attend without fear of judgement.

“There’s no shame here, and there’s nothing worse than bottling up your emotions.”

While not a clinical service, Mr Francisco said facilitators can provide information on professional support services if required.

“It’s not a clinical support service that we provide. It’s a non-clinical support space,” he said.

“But we do have the resources of other clinical services that we can suggest people might want to access if they wish.”

The group aims to break down common stigmas around men’s grief, providing a space where local men can work through the ups and downs of loss alongside others who truly understand.

The next session will be held on Sunday, February 22nd from 3.00pm to 4.30pm at the offices of Minds Aligned at 15 Peel Street, Mackay CBD.

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