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It feels odd doing an introduction after having been writing here for the past two years. This project is different, though, and we’re trying to reach and help new people. My name, of course is Shawn Henfling. As the video says, I’m a man of many hats.
Most of all, I have good days and bad days. Sometimes it even seems as though the bad days outnumber the good by a wide margin. I started with The Good Men Project a little over two years ago sharing my first piece and telling my own depression story.
Since then, I’ve been a Lead editor, a contributor, a shoulder to lean on and now a member and leader of our Men’s Mental Health Social Interest group. I’m here to share my story and tell others like me that they are not alone. We are #NotWeakJustHuman. What’s your story?
We formed the Men’s Mental Health Social Interest Group to come together as a community to examine the stigma and prejudice against mental health issues in our culture that often prevents us – men in particular – from getting the support that we need, and to work to destigmatize mental health issues. We recognize that part of that work often includes the sharing of our own stories.
During the course of our meetings, we decided to make a video/public service announcement to seek to help others. This is the result:
Eight men from The Good Men Project’s Men’s Mental Health Social Interest Group share from the heart to show that everyone is dealing with something and that those dealing with mental health issues are not weak, just human. There is no shame in mental illness. We hope that this encourages you to add your voice to ours and to share YOUR personal story.
If you are inspired to do so, please share your own story – whether in words or video form – and share it with the hashtag #NotWeakJustHuman
Here is my clip from the video:
And here is our full #NotWeakJustHuman video:
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You can watch the full #NotWeakJustHuman video here, with a segment from each of the 8 members.
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Interested in Men and Mental Health? Check out our new SOCIAL INTEREST GROUP. It’s a new kind of media. RSVP here.
