Addressing Men’s Mental Health

As Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month draws to an end. I would like to talk about some disturbing statistics about an uncomfortable truth here in Wyoming.

According to data from the Wyoming Department of Health from 2024 men accounted for 88% of all suicide deaths in Wyoming. Not only that, men in Wyoming tend to be more successful in their attempts, spiking the mortality rate for suicide attempts in men to about five times that of women.

I would love to see both of those numbers fall through the floor. We need to watch out for both men and women in our community that are struggling. We need to better educate ourselves to help recognize the signs of suicidal behavior.

In the state of Wyoming and the west we have a great culture that embodies self-reliance and rugged individualism. These are both very desirable traits, but we also need to do a better job of teaching our youth that seeking help is often necessary. That no one needs to be alone in their struggles. That it is OK to seek out people to support you and it is definitely OK and often necessary to talk to people about what is bothering you.

You don’t always need to talk to a shrink, or even a formal support group. Reach out to the people you trust. They will be there for you. This is Wyoming, we have the best, most friendly, most neighborly people in the country living here, and they care about you. Most importantly, you are not alone.

I personally am not one that likes talking about any problems that I have; I am not one that would seek help as a rule. It is not how I was raised. That is why this is a culture shift that needs to happen.

We need to teach everyone that you can take care of yourself, you should do all in your power to not be a burden on other people; but, there is a line that you need to never cross.

You must seek help when these thoughts start entering your head. We need to fix this issue upstream of the problem. We need to offer both men and women non-clinical resources. We as a community and as a culture need to do better.

Every dollar that we spend upstream to prevent a suicide can lead directly to a kid growing up with their dad, not without them. We do not want to develop a culture that just accepts suicide because ‘that is just the way things are.’

I am not calling for special government programs to solve this problem. I am asking you and myself to do our part to help our neighbors.

Simply asking the question “You haven’t been yourself lately, anything wrong?” Could be the difference that day between someone thinking that ‘no one cares’ and ‘there is no longer a point to it all’ and them seeking the help or conversation they desperately need.

The Wyoming CALM initiative offers a place for friends, family and neighbors to learn about the warning signs, communicate effectively and help connect their loved ones who they are worried about to support. https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/prevention/wivpp/suicide-prevention/wyoming-calm-initiative/

There are many other programs available. If anyone you know is having these problems or thoughts, please call 988, visit the 988lifeline.org website.

If it is you that are, ask your brother, your friend, your coworker, use the resources available to you. I know you would help someone else, so please help yourself first so that you can help someone else later.

Most importantly, make sure that the people you value most in life know that they are not alone and that you stand with them.

You are not there to judge, you are there to listen. You may not be able to solve whatever is bothering them, but many times, all they need is an ear to bend and to know that someone cares.

Cameron Savage

Candidate, Natrona County Commissioner