The 7 Habits Destroying Australian Men's Mental Health (And What a Mindset Coach Recommends Instead)
Luke Fenwick is a Melbourne-based life coach, leadership coach and ultra-endurance athlete. He helps men and women master mindset, habits and discipline to build lives they’re proud of. Connect on LinkedIn.
The crisis we can no longer ignore.
Australian men are quietly being crushed by a crisis hiding in plain sight. It doesn’t always look like rock bottom. Sometimes, it’s just a man getting through the day, numbing discomfort, checking out, and slowly losing his sense of purpose.
Here’s the truth: suicide is still the leading cause of death for Aussie men aged 15–44. But behind this heartbreaking statistic is a much larger, quieter epidemic: a breakdown in mental clarity, self-worth, connection, and direction.
And while support exists, many men never reach for it. Why?
Because today’s world feeds off distraction. Social platforms, gambling apps, porn sites, gaming loops, and substance-driven escapes… they all offer short-term relief while fuelling long-term disconnection. It’s engineered escapism, packaged as pleasure.
We’re not pointing fingers. This isn’t about shame.
It’s about awareness. It’s about calling out habits that aren’t serving you. It’s about taking back control.
So let’s talk about the seven destructive habits hurting Australian men right now, and what you can do to break the cycle.
1. Gambling: the illusion of control
Gambling is marketed as entertainment, but for many men, it’s a way to escape emotional discomfort, boredom, or a sense of failure.
80% of Australian men gambled in the past year
50%+ are at risk of harm
For men aged 18–34, that risk rises to 71%
What starts as a thrill becomes obsession. And obsession leads to secrecy, financial stress, and deep shame. Gambling undermines mental health, strains relationships, and fills the space where purpose should be.
Swap this: Understanding human behaviour can help. Build your own dopamine loops by setting clear, achievable goals. Create structure. Progress = purpose.
2. Alcohol: normalised numbness
Alcohol is a cultural staple in Australia but it’s also one of the most accepted and deadly habits. It’s not about the one-off drink, it’s the regular reliance that becomes normal.
35.8% of Aussie men exceed drinking guidelines
Alcohol is the #1 reason Aussies seek treatment
But what’s behind the surface? Alcohol disrupts hormones, damages mental health, impairs sleep, increases risk of suicide, and slowly strips men of physical and emotional resilience.
Swap this: Upgrade your operating system and try 14 days without booze. Journal how you feel. Reclaim your clarity.
3. Recreational Drugs: the slow fade
From weekend highs to midweek haze, drug use has become common—but the cost is high. Especially for younger men, substances interrupt the natural development of emotional regulation, drive, and mental strength.
20% of Australian men used illicit drugs in the past year
That rises to 35% among men aged 18–24
Over time, drug use rewires the brain’s reward systems, reducing motivation and resilience. It’s not escape—it’s erosion.
Swap this: Get addicted to growth. Replace highs with habits.
4. Porn: connection without intimacy
Porn is more than a private habit. It reshapes how men view relationships, vulnerability, and intimacy. It trains the brain to expect gratification without effort, and that bleeds into how we show up in real life.
86% of Aussie males aged 15–20 watch porn
1 in 3 use porn as their primary sex education
When porn becomes a substitute for intimacy, the ability to connect, communicate, and show up in relationships suffers. It’s comfort without courage.
Swap this: Build real connection. Journal what you’re feeling instead of escaping it.
And remember, working your shit out by yourself just won’t work without real introspective work!
5. Gaming: productivity in disguise
Gaming isn’t evil. But when it becomes the only thing that feels rewarding, it can crowd out purpose. Many games are designed to mirror progress but without real-life stakes.
86% of males aged 15-24 play games regularly
Gaming becomes a life substitute: safe, rewarding, and controlled. But outside of that screen, life is still waiting for you to show up.
Swap this: Choose change for a happier life. Find your real-life quest. Set a 60-day challenge.
6. Loneliness: the silent weight
Modern masculinity often rewards stoicism. But silence kills.
1 in 4 young men often feel alone
32% of men aged 45–54 report frequent loneliness
This doesn’t always look like sadness. It’s often hidden behind habits: overworking, drinking, zoning out. Real connection requires vulnerability—but it also creates the space where men can heal and grow.
Swap this: Text a mate and organise a real-life catch-up. Check in with depth. No place for ego.
7. No Purpose: the root of destruction
Without direction, men drift. When there’s no mission, distractions become the default. Purpose isn’t a grand plan, it’s the reason to show up today.
Men with strong purpose report higher wellbeing, resilience, and lower risk of depression
You don’t need all the answers. You just need a reason to take the next step forward. And another. And another.
Swap this: Define your purpose. Start building your living legacy.
Break the loop, build the life you want
Change doesn’t happen through shame. It happens through action. If any of these habits resonate, here’s your challenge:
Choose one habit to break and one to build
Commit for 60 days
Journal the journey
Call a mate to join you
Call me to talk it through
Because no one climbs out alone—and you don’t have to either.
If this spoke to you, take the first step. Book a free 30-minute exploratory call with me and let’s get you back to purpose, discipline and progress.
Love it, discuss it, share it #thatsbs
