On February 23, The Mental Health Council of Big Bend hosted a Men’s Mental Health event for the Tallahassee community. “Leaning on our Brothers: We Are Our Brother’s Keeper” served as an event to connect the Tallahassee community to various male mental health resources and interactive activities to stimulate essential conversations on male mental health within the Big Bend community.
Jared Melhado, Florida A&M University alum, and member of the Mental Health Council of the Big Bend, discusses the importance of this event for the Tallahassee community.
“I feel that mental health events such as these are extremely positive and impactful tokens to grant for the community. Collaborating to push ourselves forward and educate one another on mental health only allows us to advance each other as a community.”
The event consisted of a lunch the Mental Health Council provided, leading to two interactive breakout sessions focused on improving individual and communal mental health. Both events allowed for an open space for attendees to connect, discuss their journeys with their mental health, and find ways to improve and strengthen it.
After these breakout sessions, guests could win prizes like gym memberships to local gym facilities and even the ability to win free clinical sessions for some of the many clinicians and psychiatrists in attendance at the event. It also showcased the work done by attendees and gave thanks and consideration to all moderators and leaders present and coordinating the event.
Christopher Choice, attendee of the event, discusses why he came out to this event.
“One of my resolutions for the new year was to be more in tune with myself and my mind and mental health as well as finding a therapist or a consultant was one of the important points I made at the beginning of the year, so this was a great first step.”
Providing a list of various mental health officials as well during the event fostered strong conversations and continued the work the event hopes to bring within the community since the event’s inception.
Dr. Fran Close, one of the event coordinators, shares what she hopes are the key takeaways attendees gain from the event.
“The key takeaway, I think, was the fact that our theme said it all: lean on your brother, and then we had our breakout sessions where I hope attendees explored how individually they can work on their mental health and also bring what was learned back to their communities.”