CALEXICO — The Rotary Club held a Men’s Mental Health Awareness event at the Kiki Camarena Library on Monday, June 8, which included a panel of guest speakers and a discussion on the topic, along with resources from the community.
Brendon Brown, Executive Director of Reps 4 Vets, was the keynote speaker, and he delivered an inspiring message of hope and resiliency. Using his own life experience and story, Brown delineated a three-part message that he hoped would resonate with his audience.
Describing his childhood and his upbringing as fractured and unstable in the early years, Brown believes that the key to overcoming adversity is a three-pronged approach. He calls it a Recovery and Resiliency Triad, a method he developed to cope with his own issues in life.
Likening his advice to a pyramid, Brown said that men and people in general need a firm foundation on which to base their lives, which for Brown is his Christian faith. The other two pillars include service to others and fellowship, always making sure that it is aligned with your life’s purpose.
As a combat veteran, PTSD survivor, and someone who has battled drug addiction, alcoholism, anxiety, and depression, Brown found solace in regular gym training sessions, which he credits with making a positive impact and a profound change in his life.
Motivated by his own experience, Brown established his non-profit organization, Reps 4 Vets, where his vision was to create a supportive environment where veterans could connect without judgment. He advocates for accessible and supportive spaces where veterans can pursue recovery, resilience, and a better quality of life.
According to their website, The Reps 4 Vets’ mission is “to provide prevention, early intervention, and resilience-building strategies to reduce veteran suicide while also working to decrease the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.”
As the executive director, he advised listeners to let go of preconceived notions of masculinity and to give themselves grace in letting go of deficiencies and mistakes from their youth. He acknowledged that some mental health issues can be passed down from generation to generation and encouraged anyone struggling to seek help.
Brown also spoke about the social pressures of being a man and the stigma against seeking help. He described the culture of toxic masculinity that encourages young men to develop a “thick skin” and to suppress their feelings.
He also talked about the “quick, cunning, and overwhelming” depression that almost overtook him after his divorce and his exit from military life. Without a sense of purpose, Brown felt that “it was easier to turn off than to fix” what was wrong in his life. He credits God for getting him through this dark and difficult moment in his life, calling it a “burning bush” moment.
When beginning to create Reps 4 Vets, Brown decided to focus on gratitude and on helping and serving others. This gave him a new sense of purpose and a feeling of being a part of something “bigger” than himself.
Rotary Club member and event organizer Mario Conde said, “What motivated me to organize this event is a long-standing concern about the lack of attention and open conversation around men’s mental health. While other mental health issues have gained more visibility, men’s mental health is still often overlooked or not discussed in a meaningful way.”
“As part of my work with the Rotary Club of Calexico and my involvement with the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives in District 5340, representing Imperial County, I’ve had the opportunity to focus more intentionally on this issue. With their support, we’ve been able to bring forward several mental health awareness efforts in the Imperial Valley,” Conde said.
This includes events such as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February and now the Men’s Mental Health event, which is their second major initiative in this space. Both have been very successful in bringing agencies together and opening up important community dialogue.
Conde said, “A major concern is the social expectation that men should remain silent, suppress emotions, or avoid seeking help. That stigma can lead to serious consequences, including increased risk of depression and suicide.”
Through this event, the goal was to start and sustain that conversation, connect local agencies, and build stronger support systems so men in the Imperial Valley have more access to understanding, resources, and care.
“The initial mission—to start a conversation and bring greater visibility to men’s mental health—has been accomplished, but there is still much more work ahead. While progress has been made in breaking the silence and encouraging public dialogue, the need to continue building spaces for education, support, and engagement remains critical.”
A key part of this effort has been the ability to elevate awareness beyond the community level and into local and state government. Over the past year, they have successfully advanced men’s mental health awareness through proclamations with the City of Calexico, the City of El Centro, the City of Imperial, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, and the Imperial Valley College Board of Trustees. At the state level, recognition has also been achieved through the California State Assembly with the support of Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez.
“These milestones reflect meaningful progress in legitimizing and prioritizing men’s mental health as a public issue. However, they are not the end of the effort—they are a foundation. The conversation must continue, and the work must expand to ensure lasting support, resources, and awareness across the Imperial Valley and beyond,” Conde said.
Rotarians in attendance and showing their support included Mayor Victor Legaspi and Betty Nunez, the Rotary Club advisor for Calexico High School, among others.
Several other mental health organizations were present at the event and offered resources for the community. In addition, a panel of speakers from NAMI was present and helped to answer questions from the audience.
If you know anyone struggling with mental health or depression, reach out to Reps4Vets.org or the NAMI HelpLine at nami.org or call 1-800-950-6264 or text 988.