Helping men stay in the game
Men need each other to win the battle against suicide and live to fight another day
Men account for 80% of suicides worldwide. Over 100 men are lost to suicide every day in the United States. The ripple effect of those 100 deaths causes pain to thousands of spouses, children, parents, friends, and loved ones. 40% of men have never spoken to ANYONE about their mental health. Too many men fight daily battles alone. Isolation kills. Even the toughest among us need help at times.
Life isn't meant to be lived alone
Winning in life AND mental health is a team sport
If every man would help his neighbor, no man would be without help - Bruce Lee
How can the devil take a brother, if he's close to me? - Tupac Shakur
Failure we can do alone. Success always takes help - Simon Sinek
We as men struggle to ask for help, yet NO MAN is self-made. We need each other to survive, to thrive, and to reach our highest potential. True success in life is always a team sport, and success in mental health is no different.
Lessons from the tragic suicide of Junior Seau
Mental illness is the most powerful and relentless opponent you will ever face
There are so many myths about mental illness. There is so much judgment towards those who battle it. Junior Seau was an absolute warrior. He was also one of the kindest human beings around. I had many opportunities to interact with him, and know many people who were close to him. He spent so much time helping others, but he wasn't able to ask for help. This was a battle that even Junior Seau couldn't win alone.
Anyone can feel hopeless and alone
Junior was as widely loved and admired as anyone. He was loved by his family, his friends, his former teammates, and the entire city of San Diego. He was surrounded by people who cared, yet he felt completely alone.
Nothing outside of us can fix what is broken inside of us
Junior was extremely successful and respected. He was just 43 years old and had a lot to live for, but none of his achievements took away his pain inside. Poor mental health will make us do and say things that we deeply regret, things that don't represent who we really are. The song lyrics that he left behind indicate that he carried incredible regret and didn't like who he'd become.
Who is depending on you?
Being a man means taking responsibility for your mental health
As men, we will often fight harder for others than we will for ourselves. We want to provide for and protect others. Our mental health impacts the people we care about most. Men take responsibility for their lives including the impact their mental health has on others. Suicide doesn't end our pain, it only transfers it others. Sometimes all that's left is to focus on others. Who is depending on you? Who needs you to be at your best?
Will you be your brother's keeper?
Life saving words of wisdom from my friend Marshall Faulk
Fellow football legend Marshall Faulk speaks openly about spending time with his friend Junior Seau the day before his death., and the impact it made on how he interacts with others. Marshall has done it in conversations with me. I was trying to pretend to be "ok" and jump straight to business, but Marshall backed it up and asked sincerely "no, how are YOU doing?" As someone who struggles deeply with mental illness and suicidal thoughts, I can attest that those seemingly small little interactions and gestures can mean SO MUCH. You could literally save a life.
Join our community for men
Men helping men stay in the game
Men need each other. Men need more real friends. We're using sports and athlete leadership to bring men together like nobody ever has before. We're creating spaces for men to discuss mental health and build meaningful relationships. We offer weekly virtual mental health meetups, a 24/7 Facebook group for those needing support, and local events to bring men together. The community is FREE and open to all men. Join us today!