A recent tragedy in the Neepawa area has shone a spotlight on mental health, specifically on men’s mental health. NACTV’s Lyle Watson in this "Coffee Chat" episode had the opportunity to sit down with Reverend Chad McCharles, who has been involved in mental health initiatives for many years, to talk about the impact of this tragedy, community connection, and where to turn to for help. While McCharles’s background is faith-based, much of the work he does and the resources he provides are applicable regardless of one’s religious leaning.

Being in a small community can be a blessing, says McCharles. While the interconnectedness of the community means that everyone feels a loss, it also means that the community will rally around one another in difficult times. Even in urban centres where a person can sometimes feel lost, we can create smaller communities, whether they are interest-based, service-based, faith-based, or something else. It’s the lack of these community structures, in his experience, that can exacerbate an individual’s suffering.

Suicide, says McCharles, is the second leading cause of death in young people aged 18 to 34, and it’s three times higher in men. While a lot of conversation has been had over the past few years about mental health and he has seen some changes come about as a result of that, the stigma - especially among men - remains, with continued messaging for young men that they need to be “strong” or “macho”.

For McCharles, a key to compassion is to recognise that you never know what’s going on with someone else. Being able to support people without judgement can be instrumental in being able to help them. Self-care is another area where he says men fall down, and while that may mean different things to different people, he says that in general people need to “be attentive to what brings light to [their] soul.”

If there’s one message McCharles wants to get out there, it’s for men to drop the stigma and reach out, whatever form that might take.