It’s Time for Men to Talk on How to Take That First Step Toward Mental Well-Being
- Brainz Magazine
- Jun 4
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 5
Dr. Joe Oravecz, Ph.D., is a corporate wellness strategist and executive coach who helps leaders shift from performative to holistic leadership. Currently CEO of NAMI Broward County, Dr. Joe is continues to be an invited guest speaker and trainer, advocating for executive well-being as the foundation for a thriving workforce, emphasizing top-down strategies that support workplace resilience and well-being.
It’s June, Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, but if you’re like a lot of men I meet in my coaching and speaking work, you might be thinking: “I’m not sure this conversation is for me.” Let’s talk about that.
Yes, there’s more awareness out there than ever before. High-profile athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, many are openly sharing their mental health struggles. And that visibility helps. We need it.
But for the average guy, say, the construction foreman, the small business owner, the corporate team lead, the teacher, the firefighter, there’s often another reaction I hear:
“Sure, they can talk about it. They can afford therapy. I can’t.”
“They can take time off. I can’t risk my job.”
“And besides, guys like me don’t go to the doctor unless we’re dying.”
Sound familiar?
You’re not alone. Let’s unpack this.
The barriers are real
First, the financial piece is very real. Many men I talk with assume therapy or counseling is out of reach, especially if their insurance doesn’t cover much. But here’s the thing: most men don’t even know what benefits they actually have.
Recent data shows that 43% of employees don’t understand their mental health benefits (Business Group on Health, 2023). Many employer plans now offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), covering a set number of sessions at no cost, but few employees take advantage of them.
Here’s a common myth I hear all the time:
“If I use EAP, my boss will find out.”
That is false. EAP services are legally confidential. Employers receive only anonymous, aggregate data, never individual names or details. As someone who works closely with HR leaders, I can tell you, your privacy is protected.
Still unsure? Ask. You have a right to know your options and privacy protections. And here’s another truth: EAP isn’t just for when you’re in crisis. It can be a first step toward building resilience and managing everyday stress.
Another barrier? Many men don’t understand that insurance may cover therapy more than they think, especially with growing access to virtual therapy platforms and community-based mental health services. But again, without asking, they never know.
On top of that, we know men are less likely than women to go to the doctor at all.
A Cleveland Clinic study (2022) found that 65% of men avoid going to the doctor as long as possible, and nearly 1 in 5 admit they withhold information from their doctor when they do go.
So when it comes to mental health? The avoidance is even stronger.
And in male-dominated industries, construction, first responders, military, trades, there is still an unspoken belief that you should “tough it out.” This cultural barrier can feel just as big as financial ones.
Why everyday voices matter
Here’s the bottom line: mental health isn’t just a celebrity conversation. It’s an everybody conversation.
And right now, the voices we most need to hear are the ones we’re not hearing enough of:
The bank manager saying, “I used my EAP. It helped.”
The high school teacher saying, “I started going to therapy.”
The police sergeant saying, “I deal with PTSD, and I get help.”
The master plumber telling his crew, “I struggled with anxiety. It’s okay to get support.”
The corporate VP sharing, “I work with a coach and therapist to stay healthy.”
When leaders at every level, not just CEOs or 7-figure+ entrepreneurs, start normalizing these conversations, it creates a ripple effect.
Research shows that when everyday workplace leaders talk openly about mental health, employee help-seeking increases by over 30% (Deloitte, 2022).
And especially in male-dominated fields, construction, trades, law enforcement, first responders, leadership modeling is critical for shifting stigma (CDC, 2023).
Leadership lessons from the podcast mic
In my recent podcast appearances, including “The Mental Health Crisis in Leadership” and guest episodes focused on leadership and well-being, a consistent theme comes through:
Men don’t need perfect answers. They need permission to speak.
Many men I talk with, from CEOs to teachers to first responders, describe feeling like they have to hold it all together, like they can’t “let their guard down.”
But here’s the truth: you don’t have to be in crisis to talk about mental health. You don’t have to be struggling “more than someone else” to deserve support.
And one of the most powerful leadership moves is simply being human.
When a manager, a coach, or a foreman says something as simple as, “I’ve had my own struggles. It’s okay to talk about this here,” it can change everything.
It’s not about having all the answers, it’s about giving others permission to be real.
The first step: What can you do?
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Okay, but how do I start?”, here’s what I tell the men I work with:
Start by learning your benefits. You may have access to EAP services, low-cost virtual therapy, or peer support programs and not even know it. Ask HR. The first step is knowing what’s available and understanding that it is confidential.
Book a check-up. Even if it’s just a primary care visit, get back into the habit of seeing a doctor, and be honest about stress, sleep, mood, and energy. Your physical and mental health are connected.
Talk to one person you trust. A friend. A colleague. A coach. You don’t have to tell everyone. Just start with one. This step alone can begin to break isolation.
If you’re a leader, talk about it. Model it for others. Even saying, “I’ve had times where I’ve struggled. It’s okay to talk about this here,” makes an impact. Leaders set the tone.
Don’t wait for a crisis. Prevention is strength. Just like regular maintenance on a car, regular check-ins on your mental health keep you running strong. The best time to start is now, not when things feel overwhelming.
Why it matters, right now
The reality is sobering: men die by suicide at four times the rate of women (AFSP, 2024).
And most men who do so were never diagnosed or treated.
But here’s the hopeful part: awareness is growing, and more men are beginning to talk. The more we model this, the faster we normalize it.
We can change this, but only if more of us, the “regular guys”, the Joes, the Mikes, the Miguels, the Daves, start talking.
Not just in headlines. Not just on podcasts. But in the break room. At the job site. In the office. In the firehouse. In the classroom.
It’s time.
For you. For me. For all of us.
In my recent podcast conversations - including “The Mental Health Crisis in Leadership” and leadership-focused episodes - I’ve shared more ways men can take actionable steps toward better mental health. These are conversations I’ll continue to champion - because the need is real, and the time is now.
You can explore more resources at here. Let’s keep this dialogue going and help more men take that first step.
Read more from Joe Oravecz, Ph.D.
Joe Oravecz, Ph.D., Executive Coach, Speaker & Consultant
Dr. Joe Oravecz, CEO of NAMI Broward County, is founder of TrueGuide Leadership Collective, a corporate wellness strategist, and executive coach. With a background as a C-suite leader, he helps executives transition from performative leadership to holistic well-being strategies that drive workplace success. A sought-after speaker and podcast guest, he advocates for executive well-being as the key to fostering resilience, productivity, and mental health in the workforce. He empowers leaders to create sustainable, people-centric corporate cultures where well-being thrives from the top down.Through executive coaching, leadership development, and wellness integration, he equips organizations cultivate engaged teams, retain top talent, create a future-ready workforce.
References:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2024). Suicide Statistics.
Business Group on Health. (2023). 2023 Year in Review: Mental Health Tops Employer Priorities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Suicide Prevention in Construction.
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, September 6). Cleveland Clinic Survey Examines the Current State of Men's Health in America.
Deloitte. (2022). Mental Health and Well-being in the Workplace.
