June is Men’s Mental Health Month - our time to have more honest conversations; conversations that bring to light what is too often in the shadows: the inner world of men.

Men account for 75-80% of deaths by suicide.

In the United States, approximately 100 men die by suicide every day.

Every.

Day.

In I Don't Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression, Terrence Real writes:

“The essence of traditional masculinity is the delusion of invulnerability.”

Men and those who love them know the age-old story. Men are not vulnerable. It’s their stoicism the world wants. Men do not share their feelings, they stuff them down (often with the help of some sort of crutch). They do not lean on others, they do what they must to be the strong shoulder the world expects them to be. In truth, many men report that they find it difficult even to share positive emotions. Cultural norms have long rewarded strength over softness, grit over grief. But while these traits may seem strong on the outside, they can become cages on the inside.

In reality, men are struggling to feel, and, they're doing so silently.

In the book, The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien writes:

“Men would face sure and certain death rather than be seen a coward, afraid, or weak.” This about sums it up for us.

True strength, though, lives in honesty.

In choosing to feel rather than flee from what hurts.

Men, this month is for you. Your pain matters. Your joy matters. YOU matter. What we want isn’t for you to just keep going. We want to see you live fully, and that means being open to and honest about the whole of your experience.

Whether you're carrying the weight of being a provider, dealing with unresolved trauma, or just feeling the quiet ache of disconnection, you don’t have to carry it alone. You’re not meant to. You deserve connection, healing, and joy. You deserve emotional safety and require just that to thrive.

Let’s break the silence around men’s lived experience. Start with one honest conversation. One deep breath. One “This is what’s going on inside” with a friend, coach, therapist, or someone whom you trust.

And to the women, partners, friends, and family members: check in on the men in your life. Listen with compassion, not solutions. Encourage emotional honesty. Model it. Help make it safe for men to express their joys and sorrows, their silliness AND their strength.

This month, we must do more than just raise awareness. To affect the change that is needed, we must raise the standard. One way to do so is by redefining strength. Let’s create space for men to be whole humans, not just roles or responsibilities.

Because mental health is not a gendered issue, but gendered silence has cost too much for too long.
Next week we will dive further into the nuances of men’s mental and emotional health to discuss what stands in the way for many men, and how we can become a safe space for each other.

If you’re ready to begin honoring your mental health, start by getting honest with yourself. At Kaizen Mastery Group, our trauma-informed coaches are here to walk alongside you — not to fix, but to witness and support your journey back to your true self. Contact us for a confidential clarity session today.