Men’s Health Month | Addressing mental health challenges, stigma, and support options
During Men’s Health Month, Orlando Health’s Kenny Tello joins WESH 2 to highlight the importance of mental health, societal pressures, and ways to support men facing challenges.
WELCOME BACK. JUNE, IS MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH MONTH A TIME TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF MEN’S OVERALL WELL-BEING? AND THIS MORNING WE’RE FOCUSING ON WHY MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS, THE CHALLENGES MEN FACE, AND HOW TO BETTER SUPPORT THOSE WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING. HERE WITH ME THIS MORNING IS ORLANDO HEALTH LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER KENNY KENNY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT. YOU’RE VERY WELCOME. SO, KENNY, LET’S START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION HERE. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT THAT MEN REALLY FACE TODAY? SURE. AND SO THE MOST COMMON ONES WILL BE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. I MEAN, MEN, WE TEND TO ESSENTIALLY INTERNALIZE A LOT OF THE STRESS, A LOT OF THE BURNOUT, A LOT OF THE INCREASING DEMANDS. AND SO SOMETIMES THAT TURNS INTO DEPRESSION, ALSO ANXIETY. I MEAN, WE HAVEN’T BEEN SOCIALIZED TO HANDLE THOSE CHALLENGES VERY WELL. SO WE INTERNALIZE THOSE. AND THEREFORE THEN IT’S A CHALLENGE. BUT I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS WE OFTEN DON’T TALK ABOUT IT. YEAH. AND THAT BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION, BECAUSE A LOT OF MEN DON’T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH OR HOW THEY’RE FEELING, DON’T LIKE TO SHARE THEIR EMOTIONS, BUT HOW MIGHT THE SOCIETAL EXPECTATION OF BEING STRONG IMPACT MEN’S WILLINGNESS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I NEED HELP TO COME OUT AND SAY THAT THAT’S A GREAT POINT BECAUSE SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS DICTATE THAT MEN WERE SUPPOSED TO. IT’S ALMOST LIKE THEY BE HANDING US A SCRIPT RIGHT FROM THE TIME THAT WE’RE BOYS, ESSENTIALLY IS BE TOUGH, DON’T COMPLAIN, PROTECT, PROVIDE, AND ESSENTIALLY BE OKAY. SO ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT ACTUALLY MAKES IT MORE, MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR, FOR US MEN TO OPENLY SAY, I’M NOT OKAY, I’M STRUGGLING BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE DON’T EVEN KNOW. WE DON’T HAVE THE LANGUAGE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT. SO INSTEAD, WHAT WE DO IS WE ISOLATE OR WE BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE, OR WE START RELYING ON THINGS SUCH AS ALCOHOL AND OTHER MEANS. DO YOU THINK MEN DON’T LIKE TO COME OUT AND SAY THEY NEED HELP? BECAUSE IT COULD BE A SIGN TO THEM THAT IT’S A SIGN OF WEAKNESS? ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE SOCIETY HAS CREATED THIS BINARY, EITHER YOU’RE STRONG OR YOU’RE WEAK. EITHER YOU’RE SUCCESSFUL OR YOU’RE FAILING. SO AS A MAN, WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE STRONG. SO THEREFORE, WHEN WE ARE EXPERIENCING EMOTIONS AND CHALLENGES, WE DON’T WANT TO BE COME ACROSS AS WE’RE FAILING SOMEHOW. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WARNING SIGNS THAT LOVED ONES SHOULD REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO AND LOOK FOR? ABSOLUTELY. SO THE FIRST THING THAT I’LL SAY TO TO LOVED ONES IS MAKE SURE THAT THERE’S A PATTERN AND THAT PATTERN CHANGES FROM THE BASELINE. BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY IS MORE OF AN INTROVERT, JUST BECAUSE THEY DON’T TALK, THAT DOES NOT AN ISSUE. BUT THE MAIN ONES IS NUMBER ONE IS THEY CHANGE THEIR MOOD. AGAIN, THERE’S A PATTERN TYPICALLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS, THEIR MOOD CHANGES AND TYPICALLY THEIR MOOD IS MORE IRRITABLE OR THEY START TO ISOLATE. THAT’S ANOTHER COMMON PATTERN. THE OTHER PATTERN IS WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY’RE NOT ABLE TO, TO CONNECT WITH INDIVIDUALS. THEY ISOLATE, THEY USE THEIR PHONE A LOT MORE. THEY THEY TRY TO WORK EXTRA HOURS. AND ONCE AGAIN, IT’S A PATTERN THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE BEFORE. AND SO IN ADDITION TO THAT IS IF THEY’RE KEEPING THINGS IN. IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE MAN IS EXPERIENCING A LOSS OR SOMETHING THAT. FOR THEM COME IN INDIVIDUAL, IT WILL LIKELY RAISE SOME RED FLAGS, BUT THAT INDIVIDUAL SEEMS STOIC AND NOT SHARING THAT IS A RED FLAG. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RESOURCES OR COPING STRATEGIES YOU RECOMMEND FOR MEN WHO MAY BE DEALING WITH THINGS LIKE ANXIETY, STRESS, EVEN DEPRESSION? ABSOLUTELY. SO THE FIRST ONE IS THERE’S A NATIONAL CRISIS LINE, THE NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT. AND SO THAT IS A CRISIS LINE THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN CALL OR TEXT IN ADDITION TO THAT IS REACH OUT FOR FOR HELP. AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS EASY, HOWEVER, FOR MEN, IT’S SO DIFFICULT FOR US TO REACH OUT FOR HELP. NOW. HELP DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN PROFESSIONAL HELP. IT COULD MEAN A FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE, A PASTOR, A PRIEST, SOMEBODY THAT YOU RESPECT, BUT ULTIMATELY IS SOMEONE THAT YOU ARE. YOU’LL BE ENTRUSTED THAT YOU’LL BE TRUSTING THEM WITH. WITH THAT INFORMATION. THE NEXT ONE IS FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALSO TAKE CARE OF THE BASICS. THE BASICS IS YOUR SLEEP, YOUR APPETITE, EXERCISE. I MEAN, THESE THINGS ALSO IMPACT MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE IF WE’RE NOT SLEEPING WELL, IF WE’RE NOT EATING NUTRITIOUS FOOD, THAT’S GOING TO IMPACT OUR MOOD. ABSOLUTELY. HEY, KENNY, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR MEN. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. REAL QUICKLY. WHERE CAN PEOPLE GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION SO THEY CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, ORLANDO HEALTH.COM/HUB, AND THEY’LL FIND ARTICLES AND RESOURCES AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT PROVIDERS
Men’s Health Month | Addressing mental health challenges, stigma, and support options
During Men’s Health Month, Orlando Health’s Kenny Tello joins WESH 2 to highlight the importance of mental health, societal pressures, and ways to support men facing challenges.
Updated: 9:41 AM EDT Jun 22, 2026
June is Men’s Health Month, a time to emphasize the importance of men’s mental health and explore the challenges they face, societal expectations, and strategies for support. Orlando Health licensed clinical social worker Kenny Tello discussed some of the most common mental health challenges men face today, including stress, anxiety, and depression. Tello also addressed how societal expectations of “being strong” can impact men’s willingness to seek help.Tello shared warning signs loved ones should look for, resources and coping strategies.Click here to learn more about Orlando Health. If you or someone you know needs support, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. Call or send a text message to 988 or chat online here.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
June is Men’s Health Month, a time to emphasize the importance of men’s mental health and explore the challenges they face, societal expectations, and strategies for support.
Orlando Health licensed clinical social worker Kenny Tello discussed some of the most common mental health challenges men face today, including stress, anxiety, and depression.
Tello also addressed how societal expectations of “being strong” can impact men’s willingness to seek help.
Tello shared warning signs loved ones should look for, resources and coping strategies.
Click here to learn more about Orlando Health.
If you or someone you know needs support, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7.
Call or send a text message to 988 or chat online here.