November is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and I want to remind you to get out there and support the men in your life.
We don’t often think about the men in our lives, and that’s a shame. Because too many of them are struggling with anxiety, depression, or even contemplating suicide, I am encouraging you to open up and talk to them—and listen when they need help.
The problem is that many men feel it’s a sign of weakness to talk about their feelings—but that couldn’t be further from the truth! We all go through hard times—it doesn’t mean you’re weak for needing support. It just means you’re human.
Did you know that 1 in 8 men struggle with depression, or that men make up 75% of suicides, and that every 14.4 seconds, a man commits suicide in the US
So what can you do? Ask your boyfriend, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, or even a friend, how his day went today. If he doesn’t open up right away, don’t give up—keep asking until he feels comfortable telling you what’s going on inside his head. Then listen without judgment or criticism; try not to interrupt him or interject any of your own opinions until he’s finished talking (even if it takes a while). And once he’s done sharing his thoughts, offer some kind words of encouragement or empathy—something like “That sounds really tough.”
Let’s normalize men being allowed to seek help. There is no need to suffer in silence.