‘Love Letter to Men’ aims to support men’s mental health in Medicine Hat

Whether you’re a man navigating your journey or someone who cares about the men in your life, all are welcome to attend, organizers say.

The LLM conference is focused on rewriting the narrative around men’s mental health.

Steve MacCuaig, education coordinator at Sanare Centre, said that we’re all on a learning path — and the more we know, the better people we can be.

“It’s easier to open up with someone else once you understand that they have the same struggle that you have,” he said.

Steve MacCuaig. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

He said that only 30 per cent of men who experience mental health challenges seek professional help.

He said there’s a lot of silence around the topic, and hopes by hosting the event it will help men feel like they don’t have to be silent.

MacCuaig said that three of four suicides in Canada are men, but says that suicide isn’t always the issue.

“Sometimes the issue is, as men, we don’t feel loved, or we don’t feel anyone cares, or we’re useless, or whatever the feeling may be,” he said.

“We may never verbalize that to anyone else. We may just keep that within, and we struggle with it for years,” he added.

“Then when you’re at something like this, it’s like a light goes on. I’m not alone. I’m not the only man who struggles with this.”

MacCuaig said that it’s easier to open up with someone else once you understand that they have the same struggle that you do.

He hopes that by hosting the event and encouraging men to come, those who are looking for help and didn’t know where to go will attend.

The watch party will take place at the Medicine Hat Legion at 6 p.m. each night from Tuesday to Thursday.

by Jayk Sterkenburg