Ones to Watch: Men’s mental health creators
Curated by Megan Collins, Cultural Anthropologist, Generational Expert and contributor to the MTD blog
Amid the growing Loneliness epidemic, mental health is important for everyone, regardless of gender. While the realm of feelings has traditionally excluded men, there's good news: men are becoming more open about their mental health, and there are more resources available to help them than ever before. It's true that men are just as likely as women to experience mental health problems, but they may be less likely to seek help due to stigma, traditional gender roles, and lack of access to resources. Luckily, this is shifting as men are realizing that toxic masculinity can harm them as well and that it's okay to talk about their feelings. Perhaps most importantly, society is starting to see men who talk about needing and getting help as a sign of strength, not weakness. This month, we're sharing three creators who are passionately advocating for men's mental health through their digital content.
Justin Baldoni is creating a safe space for men to feel their feelings
While he's best known for his role as the leading love interest in CW's Jane the Virgin, the actor is also a passionate advocate for men's mental health. Along with his friends Jamey Heath and Liz Plank, he hosts the podcasts Man Enough and released a book of the same name. In his work, he speaks openly about his own struggles with anxiety and depression, interviews other men, and encourages them to seek help when they need it, not if.
The feminist who loves men
Alongside Justin Baldoni, Liz Plank is a creator, thinker, and author who is passionate about improving relational dynamics between men & women. In addition to co-hosting the Man Enough and Synced podcasts she has written a book called “For The Love of Men.” Billed as an exploration of “how we can create a safe space for men to define their own version of mindful masculinity” the book is representative of Liz’s empathetic and optimistically-minded approach to the men’s mental health crisis.
An up & coming UK-based radio presenter and podcaster speaking passionately about mental health
Richie Brave is a presenter and the self-described "host of Radio's biggest group chat," aka his live radio show, 1Xtra Talks. Listeners can call or tweet in to the live broadcast or listen back later like a podcast as he talks about "all the topics that matter to young people in the UK." From Black literature to aliens to Incel culture, he approaches topics with a lens that's sensitive to mental health and wellness, and he encourages other men to do the same.