It seems like there’s never a good time to talk about men’s issues. I was with a group today and the conversation we were having turned to mental health. I brought up the male suicide statistics and how a lot of men don’t seek help because they’re made to feel like their issues aren’t important. Immediately, one of the ladies in the group shot back with “There are women being murdered in Iran right now, is your masculinity really that fragile that you have to take attention away from that?” The situation in Iran had not been touched on at all during this conversation. Obviously compared to that horrific violence, my feelings aren’t important at all. So, does anyone else feel like this? That there will always be something that takes precedence over the very real and serious problems that men have to deal with? There’s always a “what about” that makes me feel selfish and ignorant for even having brought up men’s issues. At this point, why speak up at all if no one’s going to listen?

EDIT: I wasn’t expecting to get this much of a response. Thank you to everyone who shared some encouragement and input. I’m going to keep doing my best to help the folks around me.