Jim Bracewell is president of The Men's Resource Network, Inc. (MRN) and editor of MENSIGHT Magazine online. MRN sponsors TheMensCenter
.com & MENSIGHT Magazine.

We must raise our awareness that the potential for violence exists in women as well men... it is a human potential.  This is important because in our current cultural climate, men are blamed in some way for almost all violence even when a man claims to be a victim... "he must have done something to deserve it." This was, in fact, implied in the blame-the-victim defense presented for Clara Harris, the "Mercedes murderer." If only male perpetrators are held fully accountable to the law for their actions, nothing will change in our society.

Real Men Talk About Depression... Finally!
by
James Bracewell © 2002

I Don't Want to Talk About It!

That's the way most men deal with depression. It's also the title of Terrance Real' book about male depression.

Awareness created by Real and other men's health activists has finally brought the seriousness of the problem into public awareness.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is reaching out to educate the public about depression in men through its Real Men. Real Depression. campaign.

Researchers estimate that more than six million men in the United States have a depressive disorder — about one-third of all adults living with depression in any given year.  However, men are less likely than women to recognize, acknowledge, and seek treatment for their depression.  In addition, their loved ones and even their physicians may not always detect depressive symptoms in men.

Taking a new approach of men talking directly to other men, NIMH worked with a distinguished documentary filmmaker, Leslie Wiener, who filmed men as they spoke candidly about their experiences with depression. The many hours of unscripted conversations with a wide spectrum of men (including a retired U.S. Air Force First Sergeant, a firefighter, a writer, a publisher, a national diving champion, a lawyer, a police officer, a student, and others) have been edited to produce public service announcements (PSAs) for television. The men filmed gave permission to use their full names and professions, and they are active participants in the campaign.

By sharing their personal stories of depression, treatment, and recovery, these men are helping NIMH reach out to increase public awareness of depression in men, and are making a powerful contribution to help other men recognize depression.

Below, MENSIGHT features the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, Real Men, Real Depression page (http://menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov/).  This page is possibly the most complete resources ever made available about depression in men.

Jim Bracewell, president, The Men's Resource Network, Inc., a 501 (c)(3), non-profit org.
Visit The Men's Center.com: http://themenscenter.com and
MENSIGHT MAGAZINE http://themenscenter.com/mensight

Copyright 2003 Jim Bracewell, all rights reserved