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 of support and awareness of mental health issues often faced specifically by men in the United States.

In Georgia, the need for mental health 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 Illness.

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

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

Rodgers advises men between the ages of 20 and 70 to pursue foundational 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 realizing that (their problems) are common outside of themselves. »

The definition of “manliness”

In a culture where the nature of societal and gender norms are constantly evolving, 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 fitting into these kinds of idealized visions of what they think they should be,” did he declare.

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 demonstrate who they are in relation to societal expectations.

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

“In my work, I’m all about finding out what’s important to you,” he said. “What are your values? What are your personal, individual goals? Not what your mom, dad, friends or coach really want you to do.”

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

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

Rodgers says men who identify as LGBTQ can struggle to find their place in modern social structures. And this research shows this group is often overlooked.

“This is 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,” he said.

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 the 30-40 age range engage in long-term relationships than in previous generations.

“You see quite a few men who are uncomfortable with marriage, uncomfortable with the idea of ​​committing to a relationship, giving everything they have and solving problems at because of this idea that ‘I’m not ready’. I haven’t reached that level of manhood to be the breadwinner and make money and all that,” he said.

Rodgers notes that the older men get, the more addictive habits can flourish 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‘

While many boys and men have begun seeking professional mental health services in recent years, Anderson and Rodgers note that there is still a great deal of stigma attached to masculinity 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 different than what you have or what you’ve experienced, 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.”