Atlanta-based organizations provide mental health resources for men – WABE

The end of June marks the final week of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to support and raise awareness of the mental health issues that often face men specifically in the United States.

In Georgia, the need for mental awareness continues to grow as more men experience anxiety, depression and suicide.

Although men are less likely to be diagnosed with depression or mental illness, they are four times more likely to commit suicide nationally, according to 2021 data from the National Institute of Mental Diseases.

In 2018, according to statistics released by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, 78% of suicide deaths in the state were men.

Eric Rodgers is the founder of Just For Men Behavioral Health, an Atlanta-based mental health center that works to make therapy more accessible and comfortable for men.

Rodgers advises men between the ages of 20 and 70 to undertake fundamental work that teaches them how to communicate their emotions and the difficulties they may face.

“When men seek help and want to talk about these issues, on the one hand, they may face stigma and people respond by questioning their manhood. On the other hand, they are talking to another man who does not have the skills or understanding to communicate and actually deal with this problem,” he said.

“Men have a really hard time understanding that their problems are common outside of themselves.”

The definition of “manliness”

In a culture that is constantly evolving the nature of societal and gender norms, Hodges notes that many men struggle to understand what shapes their identity.

“(Whether it’s) identity in the bedroom, identity as a breadwinner… they have a hard time adjusting to these kinds of idealized views of what they think they should be,” he said.

As a mental health therapist with CHRIS180, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Georgia residents overcome mental and emotional trauma, Taylor Anderson works with young men ages 7 to 18, where he develops treatments specifically based on the situation of its patients.

The 34-year-old counselor prides himself on building authentic relationships that will allow young men to feel safe expressing their thoughts and “being comfortable being uncomfortable.”

Anderson often observes that the pressures of social media and technology make it difficult for young men to show who they are in relation to society’s expectations.

“(They tell me) ‘The culture says I have to somehow be tough and not show emotion and fit into this stereotype,’” Anderson said.

“One important thing I do in my job is figure out what’s important to you,” he said. “What are your values? What do you want to strive for personally — individually? Not because what your mom, dad, friends or coach really wants you to do.

These struggles can also become more intense based on factors such as race and sexuality.

Anderson notes that with some of the young black men he has worked with, it can be difficult for them to feel comfortable enough to show joy or emotion outside of stoicism.

According to Rodgers, men who identify as members of the LGBTQ community may struggle to fit into current social structures. And research shows that this group is often overlooked.

“It’s a group that particularly suffers from mental health issues as men because… they can’t necessarily talk to their usual male friend or the male person around them because of the nature of the discussions “, did he declare.

In the age of social media, children and adolescents are exposed to a flood of ideas, images and people.

However, despite the ability to connect socially with a wider audience than ever before, Anderson believes that the evolution of technology has only made it more difficult for boys to develop interpersonal relationships.

“On paper, you would think they’re more connected because they’re socially surrounded by more people, but that’s not the case,” he said. “They feel, I think… more alone because social media doesn’t give them the kind of normal social relationships that they need. »

In his six years as a mental health professional, Rodgers says he’s seen fewer men in their 30s and 40s entering long-term relationships than in previous generations.

“We see a lot of men who are not comfortable with marriage, who are not comfortable with the idea of ​​committing to a relationship, of giving everything they have to this relationship and to solve problems because of this idea that they are not ready, that they have not reached the level of manhood necessary to be the breadwinner, to earn money and all that,” a- he declared.

Rodgers notes that the older men get, the more addictive habits can develop to destructive levels, especially when stressors such as family, career and income play a central role.

“A lot of men, because they haven’t learned how to deal with these situations, tend to adopt escape or safety behaviors… to escape these feelings that they don’t know how to talk about or don’t even feel comfortable talking about,” he said.

“A different approach‘

Although many boys and men have begun seeking professional mental health services in recent years, Anderson and Rodgers both note that there is still a large stigma attached to manhood and mental health treatment.

Anderson notes that while it’s easy to view personal difficulties as temporary, they can have long-term effects that will only create more difficulties.

“If you want something a little different than what you have or what you’ve had, maybe it’s time to take a different approach,” he said.

Through his clients, he says he often sees feelings of relief and emotional breakthroughs in men who are able to talk with someone who can relate to their experiences.

“Sometimes finding a therapist is like finding a hairdresser. You may need to test it out and see if this person, this person is right for you. And sometimes it might not be, but that doesn’t mean therapy doesn’t work,” Rodgers said.

“It doesn’t mean you’re crazy, it doesn’t mean anything… we all need support.”