I've been bitten, screamed at, and watched families shatter in real time. In the face of such struggles and tragedies, there is no hard-and-fast rule on what the best approach is. You are witnessing life and watching someone’s immediate circumstances change in devastating ways. What has stayed with me is the power of showing up, being yourself, accessing your humanity, and seeing the other person for who they are. To me, there is no greater power than human connection.

That same belief in human connection guided my work on You Good, Man?, a recent state-wide public health campaign to prevent suicide deaths in Rhode Island. Recognizing that men are significantly more likely to die by suicide than the rest of the population, the Rhode Island Department of Health partnered with us to deliver effective messaging that will specifically engage this at-risk group of individuals.

Listening was the first step. I met with men from a range of high-stress industries, including the building trades, horticulture, marine, and electrical work. I met with each interviewee to gain insight into their experiences as men in society and how mental health plays a role in their daily lives. I appreciated how candid each interviewee was, taking the time to answer my questions and allowing themselves to be vulnerable by reflecting deeply and responding honestly.

Because of the breadth of perspectives these men gave, we were able to develop an effective public messaging campaign that is real, grounded, and impactful. At Reach, this kind of listening is where the work begins. We don’t create campaigns in isolation. We start by hearing directly from the target audience. The stories these men shared didn’t just inform the message – they shaped the tone, the visuals, and the structure of the campaign itself. That’s what makes the work resonate: it’s grounded in the voices and lived experiences of the people we’re trying to reach.

That saying, “It takes a village,” I believe, applies to mental health. We are all responsible for how we show up in people’s lives because we can each have an oversized effect on one another. It certainly took a village of people coming together to bring this campaign to life. Now it will take the whole community coming together to reverse the stigma of talking about mental health.

Check in on a loved one, talk to a stranger, and learn from one another. Ask your friend, ‘You good, man?’ because support starts with a simple check-in.

If you’re not sure where to start, visit yougoodman.org to explore the campaign and find tools to help you reach out. And while you’re there, please check out our video and share it with others. Let’s all start talking about our mental health.