Mental Health Matters: "The Male Perspective"

By Director of Mental Health Services Griselda Williams

During a recent conversation with David Simpson, Mental Wellness Team Counselor, he shared an awareness that male residents at Community LINC, as well as those within the community, seem to disappear and are not as involved in support programs as women. David shared that many programs are organized to support female clients, i.e. WIC, other programs for single mothers or women with children but that few share as great a support of males or fathers. We have seen a few fathers at Community LINC with primary custody of their children or those who have come to the program without a female partner. David attempted to engage those men and provide them with support. I observed one male who would only talk with David in an individual session or in the parking lot, but would not attend program group which was predominately female.

David stated one time that he asked a male resident, “Why do you disappear from getting involved?” and the male resident shared, “People don’t notice”.

David shared other comments by male clients, like:

"I’m invisible. I can easily disappear into the background and shadows."

"My absence is not noticed; as a matter of fact sometimes it’s discouraged and expected that I will be absent."

"Sometimes I get involved with things, sometimes I don’t."

"It really doesn’t matter because people don’t notice."

"I don’t feel rejected or neglected. It’s just that no one expects me to always be involved."

"Now don’t get me wrong, I have circumstances that are hard for me to handle. Many times I just don’t know what to do, so it’s easy to become invisible."

"Sometimes, I will take care of my responsibilities and step up to the plate. Many times I have been really involved."

"I guess what I’m saying is if you don’t expect things of me, I will do them at my leisure."

As David shared this conversation with me, it made me realize that men don't engage in the same way as our female residents. I appreciated David sharing the male perspective with me.