Mental health meetings offer men connections

Each year in the United States, more than 6 million men suffer from depression and are four times more likely than women to commit suicide, according to Mental Health America (MHA).

However, men and mental health aren’t always synonymous, and many men will tell you it’s because of a stigma.

“One of my earliest memories is being at my grandparents’ funeral as a kid and crying,” Matt Catlin recalls. “And I’m told I can’t cry because I’m a boy.”

In 2004, Catlin, who has a background in nursing and social work, served a tour in Iraq with the New York Army National Guard. The 41-year-old was mentally tested.

“It’s a seamless experience,” Catlin said. “It really depends on my ability, how much it weighs, and how many factors I’m battling again in my life at that point.”

Catlin is not alone.

Experts say depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and eating disorders are among the top mental health issues plaguing men across the country.

According to the MHA, more than 3 million men suffer from panic disorder; 90% of people diagnosed before the age of 30 are men; and men represent approximately 10% of patients with anorexia or bulimia, and 35% of those with binge eating disorder.

“We live in a world where there is a lot of disconnection from each other,” Catlin said.

Having encountered these unique obstacles in life, Catlin sought to not only help himself, but also to help others.

“Locally, in my community, I struggle to find resources,” he said.

That’s when he came across a meetup on men’s wellness and mental health, hosted by Noteworthy Resources, a nonprofit based in Albany.

“We don’t want to assume that just because someone is speaking they need to hear something back,” Catlin said. “Sometimes people just need a platform, they need to say it out loud, they need to hear themselves more than to be heard by someone else. »

Recognizing the benefits of these meetings almost immediately, Catlin became more involved and was recently chosen to lead the initiative.

“As I started to prioritize it more, it just fueled more and more of the connection that I needed,” Catlin explained. “And I kind of missed the support that I felt in my community and in my life.”

During Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Catlin encourages all New York men to recognize the challenges they may face and find an outlet.

“I just keep fighting,” he said. “That’s the most important thing. Find some kind of connection and keep it even when you feel alone.

If you need immediate medical assistance, please dial 911. To access the toll-free Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, dial 988.