The month of June shines light on the pressure many men feel to stay strong as it is National Men’s Mental Health Month.
Local efforts are encouraging more open conversations surrounding mental health as the month of June continues.
The goal is to get men to become more open, more free, and better able to manage their emotions in a way to be more productive in our society.
Eric Mccalpine, cohost for Tony Dixon and Friends Podcast said, “With men, we’re taught at an early age to, keep things to yourself to deal with it, to do or not say. As you get older, you find yourself needing to find an outlet to share and express your feelings.”
For many men, opening up doesn’t always come naturally.
During the month of June, conversations are focusing on the pressures men face and the importance of creating a space to talk.
Chris Brubeck, NAMI Tuscaloosa President, said “They carry a lot of burden of life with them, and, and it can take an effect. It’s really to try to minimize the stigma around that subject and so that men feel okay to not be okay sometimes.”
NAMI Tuscaloosa holds event monthly about mental health and helping the community feel more comfortable to express themselves.
These conversations are continuing locally, through events like Saturday’s Alignment Experience.
The event is being held at Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church in hopes many men come out to share their life experiences in small groups.
Freddie Washington, who is the Senior Pastor at Cornerstone Full Baptist Church, said “For men in particular, you find a lot of things that are happening, from the inability to control or manage their emotions in a way, that can be healthy and productivity in life.”
Saturdays event focuses on the three A’s, Awareness, Acceptance and Alignment.
Eric Mccalpine said “Because believe it or not, when we’re whoever that is, you’re sitting beside there dealing with the exact same thing that you think that, that you’re dealing with.”
The event Saturday is from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at Cornerstone Full Gospel Church.
You can RSVP at rsvp.thealignmentexperience.org.
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