According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mining and oil and gas extraction have the highest male suicide rates of any U.S. industry.
Two West Texas natives are teaming up to launch a mental health initiative aimed at young men, a group often underserved in mental health care.
There’s a mentality of ‘picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and carrying on,’ said Coleman White, who is launching the Good Company mental health initiative aimed at young men across West Texas.
“That’s good, until it’s not,” he told the Reporter-Telegram in a telephone interview.
He has formed Good Company with longtime friend Philip Lupton in partnership with West Texas Counseling & Guidance to bridge the gap between traditional mental health resources and the men who need them most.
The idea for Good Company came to White when he went through a bout of depression.
“I have a great life, and I go through peaks and valleys,” he said. “I went through some depression, and my family helped me through. I wondered what would have happened if I hadn’t had my family, and about those who don’t have anyone to help them through. This is the answer.”
The two San Angelo natives will hold “Round up in Good Company,” featuring Lupton’s band, Briscoe, with proceeds benefiting West Texas Counseling & Guidance. It will be held June 26 at Historic Fort Concho Stables, 630 S. Oakes St., in San Angelo. The proceeds will help fund reduced-cost or free counseling and posters around West Texas with contact information for West Texas Counseling & Guidance.
White described the stables as an 800-person venue, but he and Lupton have a goal of growing the annual event.
“Ultimately the roundup would be a 9,000-or 10,000-person venue and have a concert that young men would go to and they could hear about Good Company,” White explained. “The whole idea is to create a brand that’s less stigmatizing, that will encourage someone who’s struggling to pull the trigger and get help.”
Already, the initiative has raised $50,000 toward an initial $75,000 goal.
“The fact the community is generous enough to give $50,000 to a 25-year-old is amazing,” White said.
He also wants to raise awareness of the initiative and build support in Midland, Odessa and surrounding communities, he said.
“We want Midland, Odessa and all the region to have these resources, too,” he said.