Breaking the Silence — A New Chapter in Men’s Mental Health

Ryan Health’s Emotional Wellness Center took a big leap this spring by forming a men’s mental health group. The group was organized and run by Aboubakar Diaby, who was conducting his social work internship at the Emotional Wellness Center. While he finishes the work to get his license in social work to practice therapy, Abou serves as a Community Engagement Coordinator for Ryan Health’s Harlem and Wadsworth locations.

“I saw a need for a group like this,” Abou says. “The goal was to give men a safe space to talk and be vulnerable about issues men deal with. We talked about stress management, interpersonal relationships, expectations about money and being the sole provider, how they handle stress, and the things they value in life."

“Men don’t have spaces to talk about issues and be open,” he continues. “They can’t say, ‘Oh, maybe I’m not really dealing with this.’”

Abou approached Dr. Alicia Henderson, PhD, LCSW, Chief of Behavioral Health, about starting the group. Participants were already receiving services at the Center and had been referred by a therapist. Some were on the list to start seeing a therapist.

“I felt a man needed to run the men’s group to provide a level of understanding,” he says. “Men don’t usually open up, and I was able to act as facilitator and keep the conversation moving. I let the conversation flow. They always had things they wanted to talk about. Often it was men’s health or masculinity, and how it defined them. Some felt masculinity put limitations and expectations on them, whether that was machismo or sexuality.”

The participants were mostly in their 40s and 50s, and that age range was a big factor in similarities among them. Recent reporting shows most men only have one or two good friends, and a loneliness epidemic is rampant. They have people in their lives but no real connections. It’s tough to make long-lasting friendships.

“The good news is that everyone felt they got something out of the group experience,” Abou says. “Even though these participants were already in therapy, it’s still tougher to get men into therapy than women. Men want to go to the gym, or think they’re tired, or blame the environment rather than address a problem. They don’t like to ascribe their feelings to past trauma or experiences. A lot of men still think talking about their feelings makes them weaker. But part of men’s mental health is breaking those stigmas.”

The Emotional Wellness Center men’s group disbanded when Abou’s internship ended. He would like to bring it back eventually, especially since it was a success.

“It was an open support group and a real sense of community,” he says. “Every week, the participants came in and were more comfortable talking about things that matter.”

Although the group's initial run has come to an end, its impact continues. The conversation started in this group planted the seeds of community, courage, and connection — reminding us all that strength is not found in silence but in shared vulnerability. Efforts like these light the path toward a more compassionate and open dialogue around men's mental health.