Campaign out of UBC calls for supporters to ‘step up’ for men’s mental health

A B.C.-based two-week global campaign in support of men’s mental health kicks off Sunday.

‘Step Up For Him,’ started by HeadsUpGuys.org, encourages participants to walk, run, or bike while raising money that will provide men with self-check tools and connect them to qualified therapists.

Dr. John Ogrodniczuk, a professor of psychiatry at UBC and the founder of HeadsUpGuys.org, says male suicide is a public health crisis, yet it is rarely talked about, hidden behind the same outdated culture of silence that leads men to take their lives in the first place.

“And so what we want to do is really change the narrative around help seeking to let people know that it’s not only okay to reach out for a hand, we want you to reach out for a hand,” said Ogrodniczuk.

Billed as the world’s leading men’s mental health resource, HeadsUpGuys.org is counting on physical activity to send a message.

“This is really about doing something: doing something to support the men in our lives. Whether it’s our brothers, fathers, husbands, whomever it is — work colleagues, we want guys to know that if they’re struggling, we’re here for them. We’ve got your back,” said Ogrodniczuk.

At the heart of the mental health crisis, he says, is masculine socialization.

“‘Don’t show any weakness or vulnerability. Don’t ask for help. Figure stuff out on your own. Be strong.’ Well, you can see how a lot of these things create barriers for guys when they’re struggling,” he explained.

“And unfortunately for a lot of guys, they end up taking their life because they feel that they have no other way to rid themselves of this deep, entrenched pain… 75 per cent of suicide deaths every year are by men.”

HeadsUpGuys provides resources to 10,000 people per week, but Ogrodniczuk says it can’t operate without help.

“And so 100 per cent of the funds that come in from donations help our program work. We’re based out of UBC. We’re a program of UBC, but it’s a donor-funded program, meaning that without support from the public, we can’t do our work.”

The ‘Step Up for Him’ awareness campaign runs from June 1 to 15.