CLEVELAND — Anthony Stevens said his early 20s brought him pain. 

“I was isolated in my bedroom, thinking about harming myself, not socializing with people, not socializing with my mother,” he said. 

He said this is why, 25 years ago, his case worker brought him to the Magnolia Clubhouse in Cleveland to receive help. 

What You Need To Know

  • The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports the suicide rate was nearly four times higher for males than females in 2020

  • Clinical Director Angel Chapin said it’s important to realize the situation is dire and encourages people to help break the stigma surrounding mental health and men

  • Stevens said he loves May because it’s Mental Health Awareness Month

  • He said he wants all people, but specifically men, to know they are heard

“When I got here, I learned how to work, to register, to sew, communicate better, to socialize with people outside the clubhouse, as well as to have more friends,” he said. 

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports the suicide rate was nearly four times higher for males than females in 2020. 

Clinical Director Angel Chapin said this rate is the heartbreaking reality resulting in the untimely deaths of men throughout our country. 

“Society thinks of depression as someone struggling with sadness,” she said. “But for men, that is often not what it looks like. For men, it can look like irritability. It can look like anger. While a woman might seek counseling, maybe even medication for depression, men are often likely to seek drugs and alcohol or risky behavior.” 

Chapin said it’s important to realize the situation is dire and encourages people to help break the stigma surrounding mental health and men. 

“The other things are to be supportive, to not enable,” she said. “So, if somebody that I love is struggling with being angry because they have depression, I don't want to say that that's ok, because I know that they're struggling. I want to encourage them to get help. I want them to understand the consequences of not getting help, including how it impacts our relationship.” 

Stevens said he loves May because it’s Mental Health Awareness Month. 

“It's a great month of the year for me cause it's special for me, because it reminds me that people care about mental illness and care about me,” he said. 

He said he wants all people, but specifically men, to know they are heard. 

“Don't wait,” he said. “Don't go it alone. Oh, there's people out here. There are organizations out here to help you find that organization and find a good doctor, find a good person to talk to. The clubhouse is a great place to start getting your life back together.”