“The Inner Man Project” makes positive strides for men’s mental health in the city & beyond

Co-founders Dylan and Melissa Eckes started the project.

Dylan Eckes says the deaths of several young men by suicide over the last seven months has been breaking down the community.

They wanted to take initiative on the issue that is mental health and mental illness in our city.

While there is an open Facebook page for anyone to like, Eckes says the private Facebook forum is for men only.

“Our main focus now is our peer to peer group sessions. So we have a private forum on Facebook and it has just over 850 members on it. With that private forum, it’s men only so it’s a non-judgmental zone, it’s all confidential. You’ll be able to express your opinions, tell your stories, give resources, and we have a website being developed right now as well that’s going to be a bridge as well to help people get counsellors, therapy, addictions specialists, whatever they need.”

Eckes says there has been lots of engagement with the male members, “Anywhere from 20-30 guys posting or commenting, giving their advice, saying thank you for your experience, we share a similar story.”

The Inner Man Project co-founders – left: Melissa & Dylan Eckes, Right: Shayne Cockerill (photo courtesy Colton Mckee)

The Inner Man Project also has a buddy system where members check-in with men in the group who say they are struggling.

“It has already helped because now men feel safe to talk about this. There’s a stigma around men feeling weak so we want to end that stigma. You can still be strong and robust and a tough guy, but you can be vulnerable and talk about how you’re feeling, your emotions, and struggles at the same time.”

Eckes adds The Inner Man Project started out local, but the page is now reaching the United States, Toronto, Ontario, has members out east in Newfoundland, up north, in Alberta, and B.C.

“We also have an anonymous basis where members can send a private message and tell their story without being known. We can do that too,” Eckes said.

Shayne Cockerill is another one of the group’s co-founders.

He says it was important for him to reach out to the community to do what he can to end the stigma of men’s mental health.

He works with youth and young men and says it’s been a struggle for everyone right now.

The Inner Man Project has been making positive strides in just two weeks.

The public Facebook page has nearly 1000 likes.

Cockerill says it’s been incredible, “It’s not even just the support group with the seven guys anymore. Just people on their own that are part of the group who can relate to the same struggles. They’re getting involved themselves and they’re personal messaging and sharing their experiences.”

He adds they’re doing what they can to get this initiative off the ground because the need is so strong and the feedback they received has been fantastic.

“I just want to thank Dylan, Melissa, and all the guys in the group who have been doing everything that they can and the long hours that they’re putting in. That extra effort has been huge for us. I just can’t thank everyone enough,” Cockerill told Chat News.

The social media pages to The Inner Man Project can be found by visiting these links:

The Inner Man Project: Facebook

The Inner Man Project: Twitter or by searching @innermanyxh

The Inner Man Project on Instagram can be found by searching @innermanyxh

Their email is innermanyxh@gmail.com

by Chantal Wagner

“The Inner Man Project” makes positive strides for men’s mental health in the city & beyond

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