Greg Smith, 41, founded Men Care Too over two years ago, to connect male carers who could sometimes feel left out of the available support systems, that can be more likely to cater for women.

He said the opportunity to care for his mother was "really special", but after leaving his job and studies, and operating on a different time schedule to most of his mates, he started to struggle.

Mr Smith has been caring for his mother full-time for 10 years.

"It took me quite a while to recognise that difference if being a son and a carer - they're sort of different roles, and being a bloke that's looking after someone with an illness or a disability ... you don't see it out in public a lot," he said.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"I think because caring for someone is usually done at home, and because society looks at women as the carers and nurturers and the blokes not so much, being a bloke and a younger guy in that role I didn't really feel that I fit in anywhere.

"I got a bit lost with direction and purpose in life ... I wasn't looking after my own mental and physical health as much as what I should have."

He said founding and running Men Care Too has helped return a sense of purpose to his life.

The organisation is based on three pieces of advice: Be informed, get connected, and stay active.

Mr Smith sends out a weekly newsletter with information explaining what services are available and how to use them.

He said even if men choose not to access services, it can be helpful just to know what's out there if they do happen to need a hand.

'Get connected' refers to meeting and talking to other men in the same situation that you are.

'Get active' means remembering to do something physical, like going for a walk, even if you don't feel like it.

"I think you can tend to live a bit of a sedentary lifestyle if you're caring for someone who has limited mobility," he said. "You can tend to live the same lifestyle that they do, so you've got to make sure that you're active."

Men Care Too also hosts events, both online and in the form of activities like barbecues and barbershop talks.

"Blokes are more inclined to look at problem-solving and fixing things, and when you're caring for someone - you can't fix an illness or a disability," he said.

"It's about being able to talk about it, and explain what you're going through to people who understand. You don't have to into great detail for them to relate to what you're going through.

"Even if you can't fix something or change it, being able to talk about it takes some of the pressure off."

He said he is not a health professional or expert, but believes it can be helpful for men to have somewhere to turn that was informal rather than clinical in nature.

"With the pandemic, everyone is talking about loneliness and isolation, but that's what a lot of carers' lives are," he said.

Find out more at mencaretoo.org/

The next event is a barbecue at Otto's Grove in Bicentennial Park, Ulverstone, on July 5 from 11am to 1pm, free.