Hey man, you good?
of Greene County men between the ages of 25-65 have had suicidal thoughts in the last 12 months.
The same percentage didn’t access mental health services, despite mental health occurrences.
Data retrieved from community survey of target population.
Though men make up about 50% of the total population, they account for 80% of suicides.
A multitude of factors play into this, including method (men often use firearms, which leads to higher levels of suicide completion), stigma, stereotypes, and a lack of resource and care seeking.
Along with self-care strategies and healthy behaviors, connection with friends, family, colleagues, and professional help when needed can alleviate a mental health occurrence before it becomes a crisis. It’s important to talk about what you are experiencing, no matter how intimidating it may be.
We want to encourage men in Greene County to check in with other men in their life and to be open and honest about how they are feeling. This conversation can kickstart with a simple question:
“Hey Man, You Good?
Campaign Goals:
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Reduce suicide mortality among Greene County men
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Increase community use of mental health services
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Reduce stigma around mental illness and health
In 2021, men died by suicide 3.9 times more often than women in the United States.
Source: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Asking someone directly about whether they are considering suicide can reduce, rather than increase, suicidal ideation.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Starting a conversation around mental health doesn’t have to be awkward. It may be out of your comfort zone, but opening these lines of communication between the people in your life could be the reason someone you love takes action to better their mental health. They will also know they have someone who is looking out for them along the way.
Ready to take action? Explore resources below:
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