HELENA – Mental health can be a tough topic to talk about, but Lewis and Clark Public Health and the Lewis and Clark Suicide Prevention Coalition are using a program called Man Therapy to help de-stigmatize the topic.
Working out and then chowing down on some wings was the whole premise of the Lewis and Clark Suicide Prevention Coalition Guys’ Night Out: Work Your Wings. The underlying premise was to give men another outlet to work off some stress through events like this one.
“We just want men to make friends with other guys,” suicide prevention health educator Jess Hegstrom. “And to learn about different activities and hobbies, and outlets they can embrace to help support their mental health in our community because there really are quite a lot of things to do.”
For individuals like Michelle Bogden, owner of Premier Fitness and current member of the army national guard, events like guys night out is a good way to reach out to the community and offer an alternative way to blow off steam.
“This has kind of become an avenue that we’ve reached out and been able to reach out and help other veterans,” Bogden said.
One purpose of these events is strengthen ones ability to look within.
“When we talk about mental health, we talk about therapy and medication those are definitely important pieces, but we have to look at social support and what else are we doing to take care of ourselves,” Hegstrom said.
To find out when the next Guys’ Night Out will be or to volunteer with the Lewis and Clark Suicide Prevention Coalition, information can be found here.
Reporting by Sam Hoyle for Montana Sports
