01 October 2024 Lincoln students encouraged to open up: Matt Chisholm and Mental Health Awareness Week

“I wanted to be a Southern man. Being a Southern man hurt me.”

Matt Chisholm has spent his entire life battling his own mind. Now on the journey of mental health recovery, the Lincoln University alumnus has returned to his old campus to share his experiences with students.

The visit was organised as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, which featured a variety of engaging activities aimed at boosting wellbeing.

Matt has been taking his Time Out Tour across the country, encouraging men to speak up about their emotions and take action to look after their mental wellbeing.

He said it was particularly important to visit places like Lincoln University, as there could be a lot of young students struggling in isolation.

I want people in places like this to know you don’t have to deal with everything by yourself.

Matt spared no detail talking about his life. He shared his struggle with alcohol, his addiction to his career, and his fear of opening up to anyone about his depression.

A lot of it came down to the perception of the ‘Southern man’, stoic and hard rural men from the South Island.

Coming from a rural Waitaki upbringing, the expectation to embody that was strong. As he entered adulthood the pressure to act strong led him to repressing his emotions and excessive drinking.

Looking back, Matt could see how expectations of masculinity had affected him, but for many men currently struggling it might not be so easy.

“I’d spent my life not taking care of myself.

“I thought that was the only way to operate as a bloke from the deep South. I think so many of us are just roleplaying.”

He encouraged men to evaluate their relationship with alcohol and if it was unhealthy, take some time off from the booze.

“You don’t have to do that. You can still be a man without drinking 30 beers in a night.”

As a man who suffered from generalised anxiety disorder, Matt had to take active steps to improve his wellbeing. That meant doing things one day at a time, being easy on himself, and getting a good night’s rest.

“Give yourself every opportunity you can to do well.

It’s amazing that we’re having this conversation in 2024. We weren’t having it in 1995.

The University’s Student Health and Wellbeing team hosted other events throughout the week with support from the Lincoln University Students’ Association and Te Awhioraki Māori Students’ Association.

Students enjoyed a variety of activities, including a barbeque lunch with games on Forbes Lawn, wellbeing walks, an art tour and a special painting night with the Lincoln University Art Collection and Nerd Association.