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New Australian Podcast Tackles Men's Midlife Mental Health Crisis Head-On

Don't Let the Old Man In

Key Facts:

• Stuart O'Neill's self-published book Just One Reason has become a global suicide prevention tool, used across 20 countries and distributed to over 50,000 readers
• The book, inspired by O'Neill's own crisis following marriage breakdown, provides practical questions to interrupt suicidal thoughts
• The initiative has been adopted by Lifeline and medical professionals, reaching diverse audiences from children to adults across various settings
• O'Neill's advocacy includes innovative approaches such as flying books to rural communities and establishing Australia's first mental health pub
• The podcast episode launches amid increasing demand for mental health support, particularly among middle-aged men facing personal crises

A groundbreaking conversation about male suicide prevention launches this week on Don't Let The Old Man In Podcast, featuring Stuart O'Neill — the mental health advocate whose self-published book has quietly become a global suicide prevention tool used by crisis services, hospitals, and families across 20 countries.

In "Just One Reason: Stuart O'Neill on Survival, Hope and the Power of Connection," host Pod O'Sullivan explores how one man's darkest moment sparked a movement that has distributed over 50,000 copies of a deceptively simple book designed to interrupt suicidal thoughts.

Stuart's story began with the collapse of his marriage. Alone overseas, he planned to end his life until a single realisation stopped him.

That moment of clarity became Just One Reason, a 10-minute read that asks practical, grounding questions designed to create a circuit breaker during a crisis. "Your brain plays tricks on you," Stuart explains. "The book teaches you to play one back."

What began as a self-published book has been adopted by Lifeline, prescribed by doctors, and shared in settings from police stations to drought-stricken farms. The movement's reach extends from a 10-year-old Melbourne boy who began speaking again after reading it, to adults across demographics who've found hope in its pages.

"I thought I was writing a book for men," Stuart admits. "But what I've learned is that pain doesn't care about gender. We're all human."

The episode explores Stuart's unconventional approach to mental health advocacy — including flying books into rural communities during drought, creating Australia's first "mental health pub" at the Deepwater Hotel, and sitting at kitchen tables with families in crisis across regional Australia.

Why This Episode Matters Now

Australian men face disproportionate suicide rates, with limited resources designed specifically for male experiences of crisis. This episode arrives as mental health services report increasing demand from men in midlife facing relationship breakdowns, career transitions, and social isolation.

Where to listen

"Just One Reason: Stuart O'Neill on Survival, Hope and the Power of Connection" launches 28 October 2025 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, iHeart, and all major podcast platforms.

About us:

Brought to you by The Wisdom Vault

The Wisdom Vault is an Australian educational platform for men in midlife. We publish practical articles, produce podcasts, and host community experiences that help men move through change with confidence. Where career shifts meet family changes, health becomes a priority, community involvement becomes essential, and financial planning gets real, we create conversations that matter.

Our flagship podcast, Don't Let The Old Man In, sits at the heart of this mission

Website: thewisdomvault.org
Social: @dltomipodcast

Contact details:

Pod O'Sullivan
Co-Founder & Host
[email protected]
+61 (0)417 863 324