This post is taken from my remarks at a City Council meeting.
First, I want to thank Councilmember Jones for the honor of recognizing the work we do at Male Behavioral Health and for the invitation to participate in this Black History Month celebration.
As mentioned, my name is Jewel Woods, and I am the founder of Male Behavioral Health & The Center for Men & Boys. I teach graduate-level social work students at the University of Michigan and occasionally write for Psychology Today. I share this biographical information not to test anyone’s allegiances to the scarlet and gray but to situate myself as a professional in the behavioral health field and to emphasize my deep commitment to addressing the mental and behavioral health needs of men and boys.
With that in mind, I’d like to begin by sharing my responses to three questions Councilmember Jones was kind enough to ask me. I will then connect these responses to the broader importance of Black History Month, particularly in 2025 and the years to come.
Why Focus on Men’s Mental Health?
The first question that Councilmember Jones asked was, “What inspired you to focus on men’s mental health and create Male Behavioral Health?” I was inspired to focus on men’s and boys’ mental health because society is either ignorant or indifferent to the struggles of men and boys. This ignorance is reflected in the fact that men and boys experience some of the worst mental and behavioral health outcomes in society. For example, males account for:
Indifference is revealed by the fact that despite these staggering statistics, very little specialized knowledge, training, or resources have been dedicated to addressing the unique mental health challenges men and boys face. As a result, their needs remain overlooked and continue to grow. This gap in care, awareness, and intervention drives my work, and my goal has been to develop the targeted, ethical, and practical support that men and boys need and deserve.
Misconceptions About Men’s Mental Health
The second question Councilmember Jones asked was, “What are common misconceptions about men’s mental health that you’d like to change?” There are many misconceptions about men’s and boys’ mental health, but perhaps the most pervasive is the belief that they experience behavioral problems rather than mental health challenges. This misconception leads to a damaging cycle where men and boys are more likely to be punished for their struggles rather than supported in addressing them. Instead of recognizing the underlying emotional distress, anxiety, or depression that may manifest as aggression, withdrawal, or risk-taking behaviors, society often responds with disciplinary action rather than therapeutic intervention. This not only reinforces stigma but also prevents many from seeking or receiving the mental health care they need.” Research indicates that traditional masculinity norms discourage men from seeking mental health care, associating help-seeking with weakness.
Message to Men and Boys Hesitant to Seek Help
The final question Councilmember Jones asked me was, “What’s one key message you would share with men and boys hesitant to seek help?” My message to men and boys is this: Don’t fall for the propaganda—what old folks would call the okey-doke—that talking about your feelings, struggles, or challenges is a sign of weakness. Understand that this is a bold-faced lie that is designed to keep you silent and suffering in isolation. Strength isn’t about suppressing pain—it’s about having the courage to face it. To be the best version of ourselves—for ourselves, the people we love, and those who rely on us—we must develop the insight and skills to navigate life’s challenges. Real strength comes from self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to seek support when needed. Taking care of your mental health doesn’t make you weak—it makes you powerful.” The American Psychiatric Association highlights that stigma and misconceptions disproportionately affect men of color, leading to silence and untreated mental health issues.
Connection to Black History Month (2025 and Beyond)
While these responses appear to be solely focused on men’s mental health, I want to submit that these same themes apply directly to Black History Month and its critical significance in 2025 and the years to come.
The three key themes that directly apply to Black History Month and are vital in the years to come:
- Silence
- Suffering
- Strength
On Silence: Just as propaganda and stigma are used to keep men and boys silent, similar tactics are used to silence the importance of Black History Month. Black History is not just “DEI,” just as men’s mental health is not just “behavior problems.” Being informed about Black History is not “being woke.” Instead, knowledge of Black History is a prerequisite to understanding the truth about this nation’s experiment in democracy. We cannot allow lies and propaganda to turn ignorance into what some people refer to as “common sense.” And we certainly cannot allow ourselves to be silenced.
On Suffering: Just as silence leads to suffering for men and boys, ignoring history leads to collective trauma and suffering. We must acknowledge the profound suffering that many people—especially Black and Brown communities—experience in a time of escalating inequality, the disintegration of key social systems, and a growing existential crisis of meaning and purpose. Just as mental health neglect leads to self-destruction, ignoring systemic injustices leads to social disintegration.
On Strength: Just as true strength for men and boys comes from finding community, resisting isolation, and seeking support, strength in 2025 and the years to come will require seeking allies, building coalitions, and engaging in good-faith conversations. Black History has always revealed the importance of allies—those willing to stand for justice across racial, cultural, and economic lines. The truth is that today, we desperately need allies—Black, White, Latino, Asian—people of goodwill who are willing to engage in difficult conversations and bridge our differences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the reasons why we must pay attention to the mental health of men and boys are the same reasons why we must pay attention to Black History Month—because ignoring either leads to despair, desperation, and decline.
