The Last Word
By Oliver MacKenzie | Posted: Tuesday June 10, 2025
It's okay to not be okay.
It’s ok to get help if you need it and boys, it’s okay to talk. I know most of you are probably zoned out so I will keep this brief and to the point. Mental health is a real thing, and it can really suck. It’s not a physical thing like a broken leg. You can’t see the internal struggle someone is dealing with. Poor mental health can make you feel helpless, worthless and like the world is against you. Once I was at a point so low, getting up in the morning was a chore and life just felt hard.
It's okay to talk about things like this. It's not a weakness. I’ve never been one for opening up to people and talking about my feelings, and learning to open up was a massive challenge. I had to learn to trust in people and learn that being vulnerable was okay. Learning to talk helped me monumentally as suddenly I wasn’t alone. As young men society teaches us to put our heads down and get on with it or the kiwi, “she’ll be right attitude" talking is seen as weak. This is unhealthy and, in my case, caused me a number of problems such as sleep problems, negative thoughts, social isolation and even suicidal thoughts started to creep in.
What can you do? Find someone to talk to lads. Be it a friend, family member, partner, teacher, trained professional or even a trusted colleague at work. If you don’t have someone to talk to, write it down on paper. Just get the feelings out. In my case I talked to my girlfriend and my mates. Having a second opinion or even just hearing it is okay, often helps clear my mind and carry on. If you don’t talk, seeing the problem on paper can also help rationalise it and see if it is a big thing or it's not that big of a deal.
I know how hard it is to start the conversation. It can feel overbearing, daunting, and scary. I know first-hand how hard it can be. I feared what people would think, scared that I would be made fun of for showing emotion, scared that people would treat me like I had a disease. Boys, it isn't a weakness to talk or open up. I personally struggled to open up but once I learnt how, life took a different turn. Suddenly I wasn’t alone. Open up, it’s never weak to speak. Getting feelings out and talking to others helps, trust me!
Now I know what most of you are thinking. What’s a guy like this standing here talking to me about this for. I have been so low I've felt helpless. I want you to know that you are not alone dealing with poor mental health!! The struggle is real and I know a number of boys in this auditorium will be dealing with similar things. In OBHS fashion I’m going to end on a quote "There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn't." John Green.
