05/25/2024
May is Mental Health Month, June is Men's Mental Health Month. I wanted to share some tips for talking to the men in your life. Never ask how are you, you will get the typical I am ok, asking directly if someone is "OK" often results in a non-committal response like "I'm fine." It's important to find more nuanced ways to encourage dialogue, especially with men who might be less inclined to open up.
1. Ask Open-Ended Questions
Instead of asking if they are OK, use open-ended questions that require more than a yes/no answer. This encourages deeper responses.
Examples:
"What’s been going on in your life lately?"
"How have you been managing with everything happening recently?"
2. Express Observations
Share what you’ve noticed about their behavior in a non-judgmental way. This shows you’re paying attention and genuinely care.
Examples:
"I noticed you’ve been a bit quieter than usual. How are things on your end?"
"You don’t seem like yourself these days. Anything on your mind?"
3. Share Your Own Experiences
Sometimes, sharing your own struggles can make the other person feel more comfortable opening up.
Examples:
"I’ve been feeling really stressed with work lately. How are you dealing with everything?"
"I remember feeling really overwhelmed when I went through [specific event]. How are you holding up with [similar event]?"
Me and my some friends, instead of asking for whatever we say Hey do you have 10 Minutes. When we ask that it means I need 10 Minutes. Even if its about BS or just jokes, or bu****it it means i would like attention and I don't know how to ask in a way that won't burden you.
Tell your friends you love them, make it weird if you have to. but make it ok that they know you in fact do care about them. I have far to many friends that are gone that no one expected" Why diod they. there was no signs. no in fact there was. Texting and asking to hand out, texting and sending lots of funny memes can even be an alert. See me.. seek me.. find me.. It's not a game for me. These can be easily cries for help.
Please check in on the men in your life. That one friend whos been quiet. hit them with that meme, that one friend who post everyday. yea the positive powerhouses struggle as well. Make sure they are seen.
