I have a 24/7 line to help. Its free its never busy, based on love and completely understands who i am and what im going through. Its prayer to God, there is no substitute on earth for it.

There's a part you are missing. For those who have severe chemical imbalances, whatever you want to call it. Bipolar, manic depression, etc. The hardest part, speaking from experience when you are way up and everything is just the best you could ever have. In your mind already you are trying to stabilize, and pretend even if it's the best thing you have ever done, that it's no big deal, I could have done better. Because being proud of yourself for one moment could cost you your life when the bottom drops out, and you are just left with who you are day to day, even if outsiders would consider you someone to look up to.

Important vid, John. My ex (film agent Shari Smiley) took her life a few months ago. Despite no longer being together, it’s been difficult to move past. I’m thankful for my guy friends that we’re able to be real and share our emotions. Gotta give a shout out to us men for growing and being emotionally vulnerable in ways our fathers likely weren’t allowed to be. 👊🏾

i'm of the same Gen X as you, and to me today's generation is extremely weak and soft, and it just seems like it's getting worse and worse.

As a society, we need to continue to embrace mental health as a spectrum and not just see it as fringe cases. It is no different than accepting we all have physical health issues in one manner or another. The sooner we remove the stigma of mental health, the sooner many more will feel safe to seek the help they need.

I have always struggled with depression. Guess it comes with doing comedy (I’m a clown). But when I lost my fiancée three years ago I was done in. Outwardly people thought I was doing remarkably well. But my work was starting to suffer. Clients could tell I was phoning it in when doing parties. I stepped back from entertaining thinking that would help. It didn’t. Making people laugh is what I do and am most passionate about. But how do you do you make others laugh when inside you’re dying? I finally sought the help I needed last year and am getting back on track to being the performer I was and even trying to be better!

I think it is wonderful that you’re helping bringing this sensitive subject to light. My best friend as a young adult committed suicide and as you know it is extremely difficult to deal with that. I must have went through every emotion in the book. Sadness, grief, regret and yes guilt. I just didn’t see it coming, you learn to go on but it is a burden that you carry with you. My hat is off to you my friend for talking about this, I think we as men need to do this more.

“Manning” was definitely how I was raised. To this day my family doesn’t expect me to ever show (not even to them) my thoughts and feelings. I agree that that doesn’t work most of the time anymore.

I morbidly read the obits while I'm lighting the fire. So often i read about a young guy, wife and kids, or not, who had everything going for him. It will say "died suddenly at home" or something similar. At the bottom, it will usually say "Donations may be made to The Canadian Mental Health Society" . You know right away. It breaks me up every time, and I hadn't even known the poor dude.

Mental health is extremely important and there nothing to feel ashamed for. As men we tend to think everything is ok but is always nice to talk to someone.

A friend of mine killed himself (I prefer that term for its impact) 5 years ago. He was a successful and well-loved school principal, he was comfortably a property asset millionaire, and a real life-and-soul-of-the-party kind of character. He hung himself from his bedroom doorknob aged 51. His suicide note was heartbreaking. He felt worthless, and that his family would be better off without him because at least then they would be free of having him as a burden and they'd inherit his money. Scott, I know you can't read this...but your family and friends loved you for who you were, not your money. And our lives are diminished now that you aren't with us any more.

I had an appointment with my shrink just this morning, and I completely broke down in her office. Hopefully I’ll see a therapist asap, since it’s obvious I have a long way ahead until I’m recovered from this mental illness.

As a person who has worked in healthcare for 30 years. The biggest predictor of self deletion is divorce, which increases the risk to 9 to 10 times. The family and divorce is the culprit that lead a lot of men homeless. I hope men do not get married and do not allow the government into your lives

Glad you are"mentioning" and spotlighting this topic. Being a man can be so "stressful" because we need to or "appear" to be "strong"all the time😢. Thanks again as usual😊❤🎉💯.

I am just now learning about your brother. What sad news. This is an important topic for us all.

Timely advice, John. Us Gen Xers don't like sharing our burdens with others, but as the old saying goes, "A problem shared is a problem halved."

Great video on covering this topic. I have thought about self deletion in the past, but I concluded that it's not worth it and that I would rather work on my goals and dreams before anything like that happens. It is sad to see some of the toxic social media mock this issue and in some cases even celebrate self deletion. I just tune it out and go into nature to get me through the day.

These are the very issues that inspired me to start Check Your Brother. So often men will be silent and no one will check on them. We need to check on each other and maintain connections even at the most basic level.

First I want to say thanks for speaking on this very important subject, indeed we all know of someone who is perhaps struggling with challenges that they feel all alone and hopeless and there is no way out, I agree that the generation of the 50's '60s and 70's men were told "just man up" be tough everything will be okay...well that doesn't work anymore these are definitely different times...and men need to talk with someone because simply we don't have all the answers!

Excellent video, we should address this topic more often. I am 62 years old, and you have to realized that making mistakes are parts of life and parts of the learning process.