AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. I spoke to people who have seen boys and men silently struggle.
When people think of depression, they typically think of sadness, specific language, or isolation, but in boys and men, it could look different.
“They may be more irritated. They may show a lot of aggression, a lot of anger, and so forth,” said Dominique Bond, School Counselor. “So, these are some things that we can look for as well to really that can be some warning signs.”
Marci Tankersley lost her brother to suicide. She tells me she never saw signs of him struggling with his mental health.
“The
suicide rate in men is way higher than women, and I think that’s why because they were never taught to express their emotions,” said Marci Tankersley, Mental Health Advocate. “So that’s the way my brother was raised. That’s the way I mean so many men were raised, and my brother committed suicide when he was 21 years old. So, I don’t remember him talking about anything. I didn’t think he was depressed. But I do know now that he was, and he was silently struggling.”
Mental health experts say the stigma that men can’t show emotion makes it hard for them to express their feelings.
“Men need to really challenge their understanding of masculinity, and one of our understands of masculinity, which is very outdated, is that we are strong. We got it ourselves; we just got to tough it out, but in reality, we just have to address it,” said Bond.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention aims to raise awareness through its “Out of the Darkness” Walk in October. If you are struggling with mental health, you can also call the Suicide Hotline at 9-8-8.
“That tragedy and loss affects so many people down the line, The parents, the siblings. I just it can be, we can turn this thing around,” said Tankersley.