Movember has pledged $59.5 million to Indigenous men's mental health

The funding will support grassroots programs across Australia, Aotearoa, Canada and the USA to improve mental health outcomes for Indigenous boys and men.

Connecting with culture, like the work done The Glen Centre, is a proven mental health booster. Source: Supplied / The Movember Institute of Men's Health

The Movember Institute of Men's Health has announced funding of $17.6 million for First Nations communities and organisations in Australia to support the social and emotional well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and boys.

Indigenous men and boys experience higher rates of chronic disease, mental ill-health, mortality, and substance misuse.

Suicide rates of Indigenous men are more than double than that of their non-Indigenous counterparts.

The Glen Centre and its Cultural Warriors Program supports the social and emotional well-being of men and women in recovery from addiction. Source: Supplied / The Movember Institute of Men's Health

The announcement was made this week at The Glen Centre, which operates residential drug and rehabilitation centres on the Central Coast in New South Wales.

The Glen's Cultural Warriors Program is a grassroots program supported by Movember.

For Dunghutti Wiradjuri man Leighton McGuinness, being at The Glen has been life changing.

"I used to be in custody a lot," said Mr McGuinness.

"I had real bad mental health ... This time in custody I really came to terms with [that] I can't do it no more.

"I put my hand up to get help and I came here. It's changed my whole life."

Leighton McGuinness says the support offered by The Glen has been life-changing. Source: Supplied / The Movember Institute of Men's Health

Mr McGuinness says it's the professional mental health support, taking part in cultural activities like dancing, and knowing he wasn't alone in his experiences, that improved his overall mental well-being.

"To be honest, before, I didn't really care about myself," said Mr McGuiness.

"But now, with my therapist and dancing, I feel heaps good, clear-minded and I can't wait to go home and see my beautiful girls."

For Cohen, a Gomeroi man, The Glen has offered an opportunity to reconnect with culture.

"I've never really had that connection to culture. Even though my old man knew a lot, due to intergenerational trauma, none of that was really passed on.

"I've learned a lot about my culture from being here."

The Glen's Culture Lead, Kyle Freeman, praised Movember's funding announcement and the way in which it was being implemented.

"It's phenomenal, it's a massive step," he said.

"It means that ... for Aboriginal men, we can make a decision for Aboriginal brothers around us on our own," Mr Freeman said.

The Glen Centre's Cultural Warriors Program supports participants through connection to culture. Source: Supplied / The Movember Institute for Men's Health

Dr Mark Wenitong, a Gubbi Gubbi man from the Movember International Indigenous Advisory Committee, will oversee the roll out of the investment, and said it was the first of its kind.

"This investment is really important, partially because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male health and social and emotional well-being issues have never really been addressed before at any policy level or any program level," Dr Wenitong said.

"So now we have the opportunity to address this, not just from the funding, but local level solutions that we will work with to support to get the best outcomes."