Dallas Rau is the director of Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative at CMU Health.
Midland Daily News
Zack Peterson, who founded Midland Dad Club, is shown with his wife, Kaydee, and their children Dakota (standing), Colton and Madelyn (sitting in Colton’s lap).
Courtesy of Zack Peterson
Dallas Rau and Zack Peterson offer informed perspectives on the importance of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, which is observed in June.
Rau is the director of Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative at CMU Health, while Peterson is the founder of the Midland Dad Club.
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Rau said shining a spotlight on men’s mental health helps to counter societal pressures that men may feel to endure adversity without asking for help.
“Mental health affects everyone, of course, but many men struggle in silence,” Rau said. “There can be cultural pieces to that; there can be generational pieces to that. Being told to ‘man up; or stay strong or deal with it can be things men hear. You can feel like you have to go through this alone and suffer in silence.
“Having a (designated) month to shine light on that dark place can be helpful,” she continued. “You’re not alone, you can overcome stigma, know that help does exist, and you don’t have to struggle in silence.”
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Peterson, a father of three young children, started the Midland Dad Club last October with mental health as one of his priorities. The group’s Facebook page has 359 members, who interact through planned events as well as online discussions.
“It’s definitely been a big focus of mine, one of those things that doesn’t get talked about enough,” Peterson said of men’s mental health.
And he said the Midland Dad Club serves as a first step for some men to talk about the pressures they face.
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“What I like about Midland Dad Club is it bridges the gap. A lot of men don’t like going to a therapist,” Peterson said. “In that sense of community (with other dads), people are more open to talking. There’s no pressure. We’re just trying to break that stigma.”
Burnout and, in turn, a feeling of isolation are two of the challenges that he hears about the most from other dads.
“The biggest thing I’ve heard from a lot of different dads is burnout and the pressure of trying to do everything – provide financially, be a present father, support your spouse, maintain your home in addition to working full time,” Peterson said.
“That burnout then leads to isolation, and a lot of dads feel alone even when surrounded by family,” he continued. “Bringing that connection and sense of community (through the Dad Club) has been big, and I’ve been happy to see the engagement from the other dads.”
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The need to eliminate stigma
Rau said nearly one in 10 men experience depression or anxiety, but less than half of those men receive treatment for it.
“And we know a lot of that is due to stigma and maybe not knowing where to access care or not feeling safe to do it,” she said.
Another striking statistic that Rau mentioned is that men are four times as likely as women to die by suicide.
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By way of comparison, Rau pointed out that if someone is diagnosed with cancer, typically they immediately find out all their options for treatment.
“Treatment options should be no different with mental health,” she said. “Breaking the silence is really important.”
Finding community and solidarity
Peterson stressed the need for men to experience community and solidarity, citing as an example his own experience after finishing his service in the U.S. Air Force.
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“When I was in the military, we were all in it together. When you get out of the military and you have kids and a spouse, a lot of that kind of gets put to the wayside. So finding community is important,” he said.
For example, the Midland Dad Club is having a coffee, donuts and conversation event for dads on Saturday, June 27. More details are on the Midland Dad Club Facebook page.
“I think a lot of dads think they’re the only ones struggling. When you realize there’s people in your corner that have experienced what you’re going through, (it makes a big difference),” Peterson said.
Mental Health First Aid training
One way that anyone can help is by taking Adult Mental Health First Aid training. Details of upcoming trainings are included with this story.
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“This builds a network of people who can step in and support someone hopefully before they’re in crisis,” Rau said. “We offer those trainings to the community throughout the year. There’s a need across the country and across the world.
“The goal is to train one in 50 people. It’s not meant to diagnose or solve someone’s problem,” she continued. “Many times we don’t know what to say when someone is struggling. And this training gives you the confidence to do that.”