Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families Minister for Boys and Men?
Mar 23, 2026
They dig into alarming trends showing boys and men are overrepresented in suicide, addiction, violence, and disengagement. They examine how these struggles ripple through families and communities. They debate policy responses, education, fatherhood support, and the idea of prioritising male wellbeing. They warn about backlash and discuss practical areas for change to help boys thrive.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Men Are Disproportionately Non-Thriving
- Boys and men are the demographic most likely to be non-thriving in many harms like violence, suicide, and accidents.
- Justin Coulson cites Australian data showing males overrepresented in violent crime, suicide (3–4x women), workplace deaths and as both perpetrators and victims.
Ignoring Men Creates Resentment And Backlash
- Ignoring men’s issues while focusing only on women's problems can generate resentment and a backlash among young men.
- Justin uses South Korea's gender ministry history and the 2025 addition of a gender equity division as a cautionary example.
Frame Policy Around Wellbeing Not Behaviour Fixing
- Avoid framing policy as 'men's behaviour change' which paints all men as perpetrators; instead, frame it around men's wellbeing and boys' mental health.
- Justin argues a wellbeing lens reaches struggling men more effectively than punitive messaging.
