USA INTERNATIONAL MEN'S DAY TEAM JOINS INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT GLOBAL VILLAGE IN OBSERVING WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY -- 10 SEPTEMBER 2018

The United States International Men's Day Team joins institutions, organizations, and individuals throughout our global village in observing World Suicide Prevention Day  -- today -- 10 September 2018.   We are losing far too many Men and Boys to suicide.

Are we missing the signs that something terribly wrong is going on with the Men and Boys in our lives?   Men and Boys are socialized not to complain . . . not to express the natural and spontaneous reaction to pain — be it physical, spiritual, emotional, or psychological. We cannot expect the Men and Boys in our lives to come running to us and unburden themselves with the spiritual, emotional, or psychological distress that plagues their souls. They will not come to us and say: “I need help. Help me, I’m drowning.” They are socialized to be strong and being strong and being a man means you do not ask for help. They have been socialized to believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness — that it is “unmanly.” But more importantly, if the Men and Boys in our lives do come to us seeking help, will we be able — willing — to help? Will we know what to do . . . what to say? Will we hit the “pause” button, “step out of ourselves,” and embrace their souls?

We should be engaging the Men and Boys in our lives in conversations — real conversations — every day. We should be asking questions. Questions like “What happened today? Did you have a good day? Did you have a bad day? How do you feel? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you depressed? What is going on in your life that is making you feel overwhelmed or depressed or misunderstood? What do you need and want me to do to help you get through this difficult time?”

We should not accept "Everything's okay" as an answer.

We need to step out of ourselves and embrace the souls of others -- the souls of the Men and Boys in our lives.   We step out of ourselves and embrace the souls of others by asking the questions I have suggested.

By stepping out of ourselves and embracing the souls of others -- the souls of the Men and Boys in our lives -- we are providing them with a life line.

Stepping out of ourselves and embracing the souls of others is very easy.  Just ask yourself:  "What would I want?"