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When Connor Lore was in year 7 and year 8, he did not feel he could tell anyone that he was depressed. ''The teacher would tell me to do something and I'd go ballistic,'' he said. ''I know what it feels like when you think that there's no one there. … You're a guy, you don't want to give in to this and make yourself look weak.'' Now 18, Mr Lore has visited more than 60 schools in the past year as part of Menslink's Silence is Deadly campaign, to help spread the message that there is no shame in seeking help for your problems. More young men are now talking openly about depression and anxiety, after the year-long campaign designed to let teenage boys know it is OK to need help. A survey from December last year showed a 133 per cent increase in boys coming forward to discuss problems in their lives. Menslink began the campaign last year after a report by the Inspire Foundation and Ernst & Young found young men were three times less likely than young women to seek help from others. Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed the suicide rate for young men was three times higher than for young women. Mr Lore said that, over time, he realised it was OK to seek help. ''There's so many guys out there that think you shouldn't talk when you have problems, which is a load of crap,'' he said. ''Everyone needs to talk and what it was for me, and for a lot of young guys, is that you're scared and you're worried you're going to be judged.'' Menslink chief executive Martin Fisk said the results were fantastic and schools were keen for the campaign to come back this year. ''I was at an event in December and a young bloke just came out of the crowd and thanked for me for us coming to talk at his school,'' Mr Fisk said. ''He said it had encouraged him to get help.'' Mr Fisk said the Silence is Deadly campaign will run again this year, funded by ACT Policing and the Snow Foundation.

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