Men’s mental health group holding monthly meet-up

Though it's in a new location, the camaraderie, the welcoming environment, and the support remain the same. This month's Men's Mental Health Meet-Ups - hosted by the Macon Violence Prevention and Macon Mental Health Matters programs - will be held in the Tubman African American Museum (310 Cherry Street) and will be held Monday, September 28, from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Regulars welcome each other as old friends, and newcomers are given the space to introduce themselves and tell their stories, all received with nodded heads and affirmations.

"Coming to these meetings has helped me a lot," a long-time attendee said. "I have depression and have gone through periods of therapy and support, but coming to these meetings is like recharging the battery. They help keep me on the right track."

Decompressing and setting boundaries was the main topic in June, but it eventually shifted to family dynamics, both of growing up and how they are now. This quite frequently happens; men who are fathers, husbands, partners, sons…each role adding a level of responsibility to their lives where they feel they can't fail. Society tells them how to be strong and how they can't fail…so they're left to their own to deal with their own upbringing (or lack thereof) and their fear for their own children's future.

Throughout it all, Jeremy Grissom - who coordinates the monthly group - peppered the conversation with his own experiences, both good and bad.

"Things are hard, but we can do hard things. We have every tool to do what we need to do," he told them, reminding them that decisions must be made and there are always going to be consequences. "Whether you face it or not, there's an outcome to that. Something's gonna happen; it's coming."