Introducing the latest piece of video content from VICE Australia — a study of friendship, awkwardness and self-improvement, created in partnership with global men’s health foundation charity the Movember Foundation.

Statistics show that as young men become older men their world starts to shrink. With less male friends (both new and old) around, they can run afoul of social isolation, a lack of connectedness that can hugely impact their mental health. In the worst cases, this can contribute to the onset of anxiety, depression and other mental illness.

In How to Make Friends As a Grown-Ass Man our host Micah Greenwood does exactly that, giving making new friends a go. Putting aside his trepidation, and any lingering ‘masculine’ hang-ups, he embarks on a series of typical activities, including football training and a whiskey appreciation class, as well as a not-so-typical one — speed dating.

Watching Micah take on the challenge—guided by the advice of Movember’s ‘Male Relationships Expert’ Charlie Coulton— reminds us how awkward and tough it can be to buddy up but, ultimately, how important it is too.

Paul Villanti, executive director of the Movember Foundation, said research funded by the Movember Foundation found that one in three men aren’t satisfied with the quality of their relationships. “We know that good friendships and strong social connections help men to stay mentally healthy and can also reduce their risk of suicide,” said Villanti.