NYC pilot aids young men of color entering mental health fields

A New York City pilot, NYC Men Heal, is supporting young men of color pursuing social-work and mental-health counseling careers with stipends, mentorship, workshops and tuition assistance, aiming to address workforce shortages and make care more representative of the communities served. One participant, Alante Richards, says his own experience of lacking someone to confide in motivates him to support other men. Other articles highlight how stigma and expectations of masculine toughness can discourage men from seeking help, and encourage people to ask more specific, caring questions that make it easier to talk. One U.S. report says nearly 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety, fewer than half receive treatment, and men are four times more likely than women to die by suicide; a Canadian commentary likewise urges greater attention to men’s mental well-being.