June is an exciting month for celebrations of identity, and one moment we're thrilled to call attention to is Men's Health Month. Through research, we know that men account for a disproportionately high percentage of suicide deaths –– but we also know that suicide often can be prevented.

In an article for our Real Stories blog, "Five Lessons I've Learned About Navigating Grief and Mental Health As a Man," AFSP volunteer Jonathan Friedman shares his experience losing multiple loved ones to suicide, and struggling with his own mental health:

"Men are often uncomfortable showing weakness or talking through their issues, but vulnerability is a part of healing," Jonathan writes. "It was a huge relief when I was able to find other guys going through the same thing, and we were able to keep each other afloat."

If you're a man struggling with mental health, or know one who is, we hope you read and share Jonathan's story. We also encourage you to take a look at these important resources:

In an episode of Audacy and AFSP’s new I’m Listening: Talk Away the Dark podcast series, AFSP Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement Vic Armstrong, MSW, and former AFSP Board Chair Steve Siple talked about the particular set of mental health challenges faced by men, and shared their own experiences with mental health struggles
Artist Kristian Hammerstad teamed up with AFSP to create two new illustrations, in both English and Spanish, with messages of hope and healing for Men's Health Month. We hope you feel inspired to share these and other encouraging images on social media
For our Real Stories blog, actor Courtney B. Vance shared a powerful excerpt from his book, The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power, about his personal journey in the wake of his father's suicide
Our ongoing #TalkAwayTheDark campaign features a hopeful short film showing a series of conversations between a middle-aged man and his adult daughter as she notices several of the warning signs for suicide, then helps her father to start talking openly about his struggles, and encourages him to get connected with professional support
In a video for AFSP, comedian and author Gary Gulman (HBO’s “The Great Depresh” and the new memoir “Misfit Growing Up Awkward in the 80s”) opens up about his personal history with mental health struggles and emphasizes the importance of having a #RealConvo and reaching out for help when you need it

Sharing stories of loss, grief, and hope can help us open up about our own struggles with mental health –– so we encourage you to spend some time with one of these powerful stories, and share it with your community. If it can bring light to even one man's moment of darkness, that's worth it.