Defeating the stigma around men’s mental health

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- In 2024, the suicide rate among men was nearly four times higher than the rate among females, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statistics like this are why many men are pushing past the stigma and beginning the conversation about male mental health.

Alan Stewart, a St. Joseph native, holds a day job like most people; however, with his other passion, he can seem larger than life in the ring. He transforms into the leader of Men With Morals, "Burt Cameron," when facing other wrestlers in the area.

However, even though he's in a profession where wrestlers can often come off as bulletproof, he's been opening up more than ever about starting his counseling journey.

"Mid to late 90s, it just seemed like the old school mentality was still there of, you know, just rats and dirt on it and get over it. You know, you're a boy; you know, boys don't cry. You got to be tough," Stewart said about growing up in town. "I either, like, repressed (a lot of my feelings). Now that I've gone on this mental health journey.  I started therapy in February of 2026." Had some difficult times working through: newborn child, girlfriend, ex-girlfriend. Now, going through that stuff and it was a lot and trying to work those out."

Men choosing to go on a journey of self-healing through talking about their mental health, like Stewart, is what most professionals in the field would like to see. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, only 45.9% of men 18 and older received treatment for mental illness in 2023.

While there is not a cure-all plan for males facing this issue, most providers have a simple way to begin to treat it: talk about it. However, Counselor Matt Glowiak with Hazelden Betty Ford shared that there's a reason most men may not start to talk.

"There's a lot to think about because the profession and mental health in general is one of those spaces where there's a lot of stigma, especially when we consider substance use disorders, addiction, if you will," Glowiak shared. "You know, as it pertains to men, you've already got the stigma of counseling in general. It's important to realize that when you are dealing with struggles, you know, not to ignore them. Don't go into denial; accept them at face value for what they are, and especially if you're hearing from other people."

Another good tactic in feeling less alone, according to professionals, is joining a group of others with the same issues. Especially local groups like Good Dads St. Joseph, which help improve homes, where some professionals see many issues begin.

Good Dads' leader, Pastor Tim Doyle, stated that this is not a "support group." However, it's a way to distribute tools to help raise children better and encourage one another to not only improve the home but also the community around the home through tools and more.

"It isn't always just, you know, come on, you can do it, you know? But let's give you some practical advice and some tips to champion, equip, and challenge the guys to be the fathers they can be," Doyle told KQ2. "They've got it within them. We try to unlock that."

So whether or not you're a wrestler like Stewart or a community leader like Doyle, there are plenty of opportunities for men to talk about mental health.