Many men who struggle with mental health issues find themselves suffering alone and in silence, however resources such as the Calgary Counselling Centre look to help to minimize the stigma and encourage men to find the aid they need. (Phil Tremblay, CMRU.CA)
Warning: This article mentions and discusses suicide, depression and general mental health.
If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health emergency, Canada’s suicide hotline is available by dialing 988.
It can be difficult to realize a friend or loved one is struggling, and it can be easy to miss the signs of crisis. Despite programs such as Movember and Budweiser’s Bring Back the Buds campaign, men’s mental health continues to face stigma and approximately 75% of those who die by suicide are men.
From the eyes of a counsellor
Stefan De Villiers is a counsellor at the Calgary Counselling Centre with a Masters of Social Work from the University of Calgary. Working predominantly with men, Stefan lives with a firsthand look at how men’s mental health issues present themselves today. “We really see a variety of clients,” says De Villiers, “I think depression and anxiety are pretty common presentations with the clients I work with.” Not surprisingly, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association one in five Canadians will suffer from a mental health issue, of which depression and anxiety are the most common.
Oftentimes, men struggle to reach out for help when suffering from mental health struggles or illness. Sometimes when going through therapy can be seen as a sign of weakness in a society where men are expected to constantly be strong and self-dependent. The “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality that often exists in masculine culture is, Stefan says, one that is a misrepresentation of strength as a key part of self-sufficiency is solving problems. “Being strong means asking for help when you need it,” says De Villiers.
Unravelling the stigma
Another aspect of the stigma surrounding men’s mental health specifically is the tendency to dismiss symptoms such as sudden and unusual aggression or irritability;
De Villiers says “if somebody is maybe quieter but their behavior is starting to shift, those might be signals that something else might be going on. I think one thing about men’s mental health is that it can come out as anger… but when you peel back the layers what’s underlying some of that behavior can be that somebody is really struggling.”
Simply put, it’s important to check in on the people in your life especially if you notice a change in behaviour and create spaces for those to communicate truthfully.
The Calgary Counselling Centre offers programs and treatment for an exceptionally large range of mental issues and illnesses, administered by a great selection of counselors, social workers and psychologists.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, there is help available.
- Reach Canada’s suicide hotline by dialling 9-8-8.
- Reach Alberta’s crisis text line by texting CONNECT to 741741
- For non-emergencies, call Alberta’s mental health helpline at 1-877-303-2642
- Visit the Calgary Counselling Centre to register for counselling or therapy.
- In any medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
Reflection.
This project allowed me to focus on raising awareness for a cause I feel very passionate about, in a creative way. In the video I looked to tell a unique story based off the conversation I was able to have with Stefan De Villiers. Contributing to an environment that allows men to come forward with their struggles with men’s mental health is fulfilling, and I hope the video inspires even just one man who is struggling to take the step to get help.
The crew I worked with from the Calgary Counselling Centre were accommodating, helpful and open minded. My main contact, Jenna Forbes, was enthusiastic with my idea and was integral in setting up my interview with Stefan. Stefan also gave me an even deeper insight into men’s mental health and the work that Calgary Counselling Centre does. I’m proud to deliver this video to them, with hopes they will use it for promotion and awareness.
The crew I worked with to produce this video were also integral to the final product, namely Carter McInnes, Riley Clark and Marek Robinson. They were the three easiest actors to ever work with, and each brought their own passion behind the goal of the video. The technical aspect of the production caused me stress in the lead up to the final edits, as I was not 100% sure if the story that I’d created in my head was going to translate as well as I’d hoped. However, I believe the story lands with the viewers in an impactful way.
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