Mental Health

You've got a lot going on. Whether it's work pressures, bills, relationships, family issues or feelings of isolation, life as a gay man can sometimes be overwhelming. This section provides resources, articles and information about how you can take care of your mental health. We also have listings for our Professional Volunteers who specialize in mental health.

Take Time for Your Mind

Posted by HIM on Saturday December 10th, 2011

Physical health? Check. Social health and sexual health? Check, and check. Mental health? Hmmm?

Guys in general don’t have a very good track record of opening up and talking about their mental health. That’s in part because clichés and stereotypes have won the day: we often associate ‘mental health’ with a lot of unnecessary, negative baggage while reducing ‘masculinity’ to, among other things, keeping our personal issues to ourselves.

When it comes to looking after our mental and emotional health, we gay guys really have our work cut out for us! Not only do we play along with those nasty mental health clichés and stereotypes, but we also have the psychological stresses and (sometimes) hardships that can come with the territory of everyday gay life, along with heterosexism and homophobia to top that all off. Ouch!

Because gay life isn’t always smooth sailing, it’s good to talk to someone about whatever may be troubling you (or have the potential to trouble you), things you are coping with, or stuff you are trying to sort out. It’s helpful to talk. It’s healthy.

The Health Initiative for Men (HIM) has three resources for helping you take time for your mind:

HIM Peer Support connects you with another gay guy to talk to, someone personable, someone who is a great listener. No professional opinions, no clinical diagnoses, no judgments. It sounds so simple, but it can make a world of difference for you. Entirely confidential and available for free.

HIM Professional Counselling connects you with a gay guy who has a professional counselling, psychology, or related credential and with whom you can securely explore, through talk, whatever is troubling your psychological well-being. Some analysis, some guidance, but no judgments. Affirmative and only pay ‘by donation’.

HIM Personal Strategic Advising connects you with a gay guy who can help you sort out how to reach some of your identified goals and be supportive as you move further along that path. With help in moving toward your goals, that is at least one stress reduced in your otherwise fabulous life. Six sessions available for free.

Additional information available here. Register for your appointment by calling the HIM Office at (604) 488-1001.

If you want to download the images for the campaign, you can find the Student, Construction Worker and Doctor here. Also, have you picked up your free HIM 2012 “Take Time for Your Mind” compact calendar yet? Available at select gay bars, bookstores around town, and our HIM clinics.