Want to create a bro's group in my city for lonelier/ self loathing/ mentally-ill men. Ideas for developing/ structuring the concept?

137 points30 commentssubmitted by NoiseLandVideoArcade to r/malementalhealth

Not necessarily a therapy group or a space meant to be completely positive and affirming but more a social outing for those who need it. Discussion would be semi-organized and moderated (passing around a plush ball to speak, steering conversation hard away from unnecessary defeatism or ideology), but kept generally as loose as possible.

I'm imagining an absurdist tone and maybe wacky traditions. A wheel for conversation topics, friendly roasting for anyone feeling up to wearing a specially marked "badge of courage" made available for them. The tone would be kept irreverent and not especially sensitive within boundaries.

I could I suppose create more of an organized support group, but I can't help but imagine more men being turned away than attracted by such an idea. I'm just intent to create the sort of space I'd feel welcome in. (i.e. an irl discord server, or perhaps a more conscientious fraternity for people who wouldn't typically get invited to frats.) I will reiterate this is not meant to be necessarily therapeutic as much as welcoming, earnest, and generally supportive.

Any concerns I should keep in mind at any step of the process? I recognize there is extra caution that should be kept when creating a space for the unwell, and I'm not particularly qualified to run such a space besides being personally mentally ill, but frankly I can't see these men as being any worse off alone.

I have a general idea on meeting space and how I'll promote it, but ideas and honest feedback are more than welcome.


EDIT: I'm thinking of giving the group an affectionately self-depreciating name, like a Loser's Club, or even a Gay Loser's Club (am queer myself and don't mind rendering the term even more meaningless), but I don't know if that's going too far. The group would not necessarily be male exclusive, that's just the target audience.