BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Data from the Department of Health shows men in Vermont are less likely to seek mental health support, and that 8 in 10 deaths by suicide are by men.
In an effort to address that, Man Therapy is being brought to Vermont in hopes of connecting men with the help they’re looking for.
Man Therapy is an online platform from Colorado that gives users a wellness inspection and connects them with resources and therapists. The program has been piloted in Vermont within the past year in Rutland and Caledonia counties.
Over 2,000 Vermonters have reached the website so far, almost 400 took a self-assessment, and 18 people were connected to resources directly.
Stephanie Busch of the Department of Health says in 2020 and 2021, 45% of the people who died by suicide were in a known crisis two weeks before their death.
“How can we help to connect to that person, in that moment or the next week, to whatever that immediate care is. So then thinking about what some of those additional barriers might be. So you know, stigma in general, getting any kind of access to help – especially if society has traditionally taught you to not ask, to you know, internalize emotions,” said Busch.
Reid Wobby is a drug and alcohol consultant who works closely with Vermont contractors, which is a predominantly male industry.
“The stereotypical kind of picture-perfect person, a construction worker or that type of person historically has not been someone who has said ‘I need help, I’m not doing well’ and that goes back to the stigma,” said Wobby.
He says it’s not uncommon for men to seek help but then feel ashamed, wondering if their struggle is “bad enough” or feeling that therapy is something to hide.
“The worst thing that’s ever happened to me is always going to be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. My 10 isn’t necessarily your 10. But those worst things, and when we’re dealing with a lot of those stressors, having somebody to talk to, to vent to, having a resource,” said Wobby.
Terri Lavely of the Northeast Kingdom Human Services says a 2022 community-wide survey showed that stigma was the number one barrier to mental health services.
“Our challenges are quite different in the Kingdom than they are in the Rutland, Burlington, more populated areas,” said Lavely.
She says they’re an advocate of Man Therapy and its accessibility, hoping awareness creates enough curiosity for those seeking help to get it.
“You’re sitting in your truck on your lunch break and eating a sandwich, you can play a couple of videos and it might help you feel better, and really normalizing the conversation that every human being has mental health,” she said.
The Department of Health says Man Therapy is funded by grants, and it’ll be getting a statewide push in June, coinciding with men’s mental health month.
If you or a loved one are struggling to maintain positive mental health, you can call 988 or check out resources here.