Bison Product Guide Edition 2.0 - Flipbook - Page 13
SUPPORTING FOR ALL THE BROTHERS
For All The Brothers (FATB) is a Men's Mental Health support group that aims to change the views on mental
health in the male community. FATB’s founder Zane Munro started FATB 4 years ago as an Instagram page to
create a space/platform for men to connect and share experiences away from stigma, stressors, and judgement.
Zane has faced his own battles
with anxiety and depression, like
many men. Instead of talking about
his struggles he used unhealthy
coping mechanisms. Eventually
realising that all this was doing was
destroying himself and those around
him. Feeling alone he just wished he
had someone, a brother, to talk to
and share with all that he was feeling without being judged or
laughed at. Thus, For All The Brothers was born.
Because of this Zane decided to start ‘For All The Brothers
Tradie Tuesday’ putting a focus on the pressures and
struggles experienced by men in the industry. Tradie Tuesday
is a day of the week that we post trade and construction
focused posts and share stories from men working within this
industry that are and have had mental health struggles in hope
to raise awareness and normalise mental health issues within
the industry.
Due to genuine, open, vulnerable content and conversation
based on real experiences as well as spreading positivity, this
had led to a real connection with people and in a short space
of time has grown to a following of over 35,000. This following
is not just in New Zealand, there are men from countries all
around the world connecting daily, weekly and monthly to help
each other.
FATB quickly built strong relationships with company
owners, team leaders and suppliers within the industry.
We have provided advice to people on how to manage and
normalise conversations with their teams and build more
open and honest relationships within their work forces.
Along with this we began doing giveaways sponsored by
our many supporters of Tradie Tuesday, providing a fun and
inclusive way to spread awareness while treating our winners
to awesome gifts and packages. The only way to win a giveaway
is to get involved. We have a plan for the future of developing
a 'Tool Box Chat' structure for employers to use and in
the future to come and do presentations on mental health
awareness and how to create coping mechanisms and health
habits at Tool Box meetings.
FATB initially started as just an online platform for people to
support each other and share information, coping mechanisms
and personal experiences. Growing in size we decided to
start facilitating men’s walks where men can meet up with
other men who are going through or have been through
mental health struggles and talk about their experiences in
a judgement free environment. These also grew in size and
interest and are now being held in multiple locations around
New Zealand.
Common stressors for men that can affect mental health
are work, family, finances, health and injuries, relationship
breakups, child custody, alcohol and drugs, and death of loved
ones. While everyone can be affected by these things, some
people deal with them differently and are affected in different
ways. While we focus predominantly on men’s mental health
we also have a large following of women in our community who
help out immensely and support the want to change the view
and stigma around men’s mental health.
Throughout the journey that FATB has been on, we began
noticing we had a huge following of men working within the
trades and construction industry. The stigma around men’s
mental health in the trades and construction industry in strong
due to generational influence that men in the industry are
strong and hard (mentally) we don’t struggle, we don’t feel. On
average we lose 1 male a week to suicide within the trades and
construction industry.
WE LOSE 1 BROTHER A WEEK TO
SUICIDE HERE IN NEW ZEALAND
We lose 1 brother a week to suicide here in New Zealand from
the trades and construction sector. This statistic doesn’t even
scrape the surface of how many others are actually struggling
silently each and every day.
We wanted to be that change, to be that difference and to
create a community of brothers out there showing up be it for
themselves, their work mates or others within the community
who are finding life tough.
We are looking forward to the future of For All The Brothers
and growing our community with every intention of reaching
and connecting with as many men as possible. With
acceptance, understanding and support in a judgement free
environment we can change the stigma around mental health
and potentially save lives.
Zane Munro
For All The Brothers - Be The Change.
@forallthebrothers
Bison and @gystforkickz created this one of a kind Dune Safety Boot for FATB to show our support
for such a great community. Thanks to people like Zane there is a platform for tradies to connect,
share, talk and support one another.
12 / Bison Workwear Edition 01
www.paramountsafety.co.nz / 13
