This is why the Movember Foundation , an international mens health charity, published three YouTube videos ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day (which is September 10) that are a part of the organizations UnmuteAsk Him campaign, encouraging people to open up a discussion about mens mental health.
"We can all play a part in reducing the rate of male suicide by sparking a potentially life-changing conversationthe simple first step is just to ask and listen," Craig Martin, global director of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention at the Movember Foundation, said in a statement.
Whats genius about these videos is that if you mute them and just read the on-screen text, youll just see the men explaining what theyre doing in eachmaking a fishing rod, filling a gas barbecue tank, and changing a flat bicycle tire.
But if you unmute the sound, youll know whats really going on.
In the first video called "You dont have to be a fisherman to master this simple survival skill," a man improvises a fishing rod out of a soda can. While the text on the screen reads, "This is great for doing at home. Make sure it's empty, then pierce the can," he is actually saying aloud, "Things aren't great at home. It's made me feel kind of empty."
In the video entitled A handy tip for getting out of trouble, wherever you are, the on-screen text reads, If youre in a bit of trouble and dont happen to have your repair kit, dont worry. Let me show you a way to fix a flat.
But again, if you listen to what the man is really saying, the message goes way deeper: Now Im in a bit of trouble, and i dont know if you really care to hear it. I dont want you to worry about me, but Ive just been feeling a bit flat.
Like this video shows, it can be hard for men to talk about their mental health.
Men are often taught to suppress any expression of sadness during childhood, Fred Rabinowitz, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Californias University of Redlands, in 2016. So even though depression is very common among men, very few are willing to admit it.
And sometimes the symptoms arent as clearcut as you might think. If you feel weighed down by your negative mood for weeks or even months, experience things like irritability, impulsivity, fatigue, loss of appetite, and even physical pain, you may be suffering from depression.
But with the right treatment, recovery is possible. Most people go to therapy or take medication to treat their depression, but as weve reported in the past , a combination of both tends to be the best route for many people. (Heres everything you need to know about going to therapy.) But talk to your doctor about what may work best for you, specifically.
You can also join a support group if you think its easier to surround yourself with other guys going through the same thing you are. (Heres how to find one near you.)
But if you need help right away, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or text the Crisis Text Line for 24/7 support and suicide prevention. Here is a list of international resources as well.
Additional reporting by Alisa Hrustic.