Mental Health and Men
On March 25th, I hosted my first event, Mental Health & Men at the Durango Public Library. The goal of the event was to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote local resources for men’s mental health. The event featured a statistics on men’s mental health, a panel discussion, and resource meet and greet of Durango area mental health professionals.
Here are some statistics on men’s mental health that demonstrate a need for a men’s specific event:
Men are 2-3 times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol
Men are 4x more likely to die by suicide than women
Only 40% of men with a mental health disorder receive treatment
Only 17% of male sexual assault survivors seek out professional support
Men are more likely to wait until they are in a crisis to reach out for help
Panelists shared from their lived and professional experiences about topics related to men's mental health, how to raise boys to become emotionally resilient men, and solutions to help men feel more comfortable reaching out for help. Their courage and ability to share their emotions is exactly what our culture needs to help other men do the same.
Panelists included:
Shane O’Hara, Peer Recovery Coach
Chris Brown, Nature Based Therapist and Founder of Life Ways
Matt Smith, Licensed Professional Counselor
Chad Hare, Comedian, Contractor, Recovering Alcoholic
Dr. Steven Girty, Doctorate of Behavioral Health
As a female therapist who worked predominantly with men for a few years, I am committed to understanding men's needs and helping reduce the stigma of men's mental health struggles. Of course, I am also passionate about women's mental health, but saw the need for this event in our community. If you are a male that prefers a female therapist, please reach out to me!
Let me know if you want to see more similar mental health events in Durango!
-Chelsea Steck, LCSW, LAC