Men's Health Stigma by Garrett Westervelt

Good Will Hunting

westerg — 2025-10-04 17:39:32 UTC

On the surface, Will Hunting is little more than a charismatic, yet misguided and unmotivated janitor. But, it's discovered by an MIT professor that he's actually a genius with all the potential in the world to be as successful as anyone. The only thing holding him back is himself, and more so, his past trauma that he won't let himself heal from. Everyone who has tried to break down his walls swiftly gives up. Everyone except therapist Sean Maguire, who has some untended demons of his own.

The Sopranos

westerg — 2025-10-04 17:53:43 UTC

Tony Soprano is a man juggling the double life of a family man as well as the head of another kind of "family," a New Jersey mob. However, unlike what you would expect from a mob boss like Tony, he struggles mightily with mental health, going through depressive episodes and panic attacks, reluctantly having to see a therapist to resolve these issues. The Sopranos, at its core, is a character study of this complex character undergoing relatable issues in an unrelatable context.

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

westerg — 2025-10-04 19:27:12 UTC

In this novel taking place in the 1950s, David is a young American man who is left alone in Paris and ends up meeting a man at a gay bar, Giovanni, with whom he begins an affair. David experiences a gender crisis from his sexuality conflicting with the masculine norms of this time period.

Iraq Veteran Nearly Lost Family Over PTSD

westerg — 2025-10-05 18:07:56 UTC

Simon Stanley, a war veteran, suffered from PTSD after serving 18 years in Iraq. Due to this condition, he grew angry about everything, losing his temper at the most minor of inconveniences. He would not receive help, even when his best friend urged him to do so, saying that he was not the same man he once knew. After 10 years, he finally sought help from the veteran's charity, Combat Stress. They reported that it takes veterans an average of 13 years to seek help for support for conditions like PTSD.

Males and Mental Health Stigma

westerg — 2025-10-05 18:31:13 UTC

-Mental illnesses are less prevalent in men; however, these illnesses are far more overlooked and untreated in men.

-Depression and suicide are ranked as a leading cause of death among men.

-79% of the suicide rate is made up of men.

-Male mental health stigma is rooted in the misconception that mental health symptoms display a weak character, which goes counter to the stereotypical male role in society.

westerg — 2025-10-05 19:35:34 UTC

Men's mental health counselor and advocate, Dustin Hogan, speaks on how the stigma of men always having to appear strong, unemotional, and self-reliant has created a "silent crisis" where men affected by mental illnesses feel there is no way out of their troubles, and the only thing that would come out of seeking help is judgment.

According to Hogan, solving this issue will take more than just supporting men struggling with mental health; we must also work as a collective to "redefine what it means to be a man in today's world."

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

westerg — 2025-10-05 21:35:17 UTC

Charlie is a freshman with social anxiety whose only friend recently committed suicide. In addition, his aunt (with whom he was very close) died when he was younger, something he always blamed himself for. After befriending two outgoing seniors, he goes on a journey to rediscover the joy in life. This book (adapted into a film in 2012) covers themes of depression, anxiety, and sexual abuse through the lens of an adolescent male protagonist.

Venus Fly Trap by Brakence

westerg — 2025-10-05 21:37:45 UTC

"Venus Fly Trap" is a song by indie-pop artist Brakence. It is sung from the perspective of a man in a toxic and abusive relationship with his female partner. He is simultaneously obsessed with and scared of his girlfriend, finding it "smarter to fold" against the abuse instead of fighting it, but also refusing to leave due to her affection. The song pulls no punches with its heavy imagery of the abuse the man undergoes and his morphed perception of her due to her manipulation.

I'm Fine by Norman Magnusson

westerg — 2025-10-06 04:20:27 UTC

In this piece, the faded-out text represents the thoughts that men with mental illnesses feel they need to push down to not be judged by the people around them, instead telling the world that "everything is just fine." “Magnusson’s artistic piece exposes the internal psychological conflict that some men experience as a result of society’s expectations of masculinity, which forces these men not to display their inner emotions in order to avoid social humiliation." https://blueprintzine.com/2017/12/19/a-review-of-im-fine-an-exhibition-examining-masculinity-and-mens-mental-health/

All the Bright Places

westerg — 2025-10-06 16:10:57 UTC

This film is centered around Theodore Finch and Violet Markey, both living unhappily in a small town. Violet is struggling with survivor's guilt after she and her sister got into a car accident and only she survived. She and Theodore end up connecting, and he helps her heal, encouraging her to open up about her sister for the first time. However, he does not do the same to her. He will not open up about his emotions to her or even a support group he later attends, mainly out of an inability to describe how he feels. Because of this, he feels he has no way out of his headspace, even with Violet offering all her support as he did for her.