WHAT started as a few posts on social media years ago has evolved into a series of discussions geared towards improving the mental health of Caribbean men.
Garth Voisin said the idea behind The Dear Men Project was to let men know they were not the only one experiencing issues, that others could relate and they could get help.
Hence the slogan: Building a bridge between Caribbean men and themselves, and by extension those people who love them.
He posted tips, quotes, and positive and motivational messages on social media and people messaged him privately to express themselves, tell him their experiences or ask for advice, and he would coach them.
“A little bit before covid there was a period of time where I had a lot of stuff happening. Then around covid time there was a lot of isolation, so it was something to help men be able to communicate effectively about how they felt about stuff and things they don’t normally talk about.”
Voisin, 47, said when he was growing up in Arima he did not feel there was a space for him to say certain things. He was introduced to journalling by his younger sister and the practice served him well throughout his life, helping him cope with various situations including his move to the US as well as his career transitions and relationships.
He said he will always be grateful to her for that as it also helped him to help others.
Then, when he was having difficulties, he talked to other men and realised he was not the only one with similar issues. So during the isolation of the pandemic lockdown, he wondered how many men felt alone because they were not sharing the things they were experiencing.
Realising the importance of being both physically and mentally fit, he started sharing.
“I was just creating that space for men to reach out. Because normally, when they see the stuff that I do, they don't think I'm open enough to have the conversation.
“So I have to show a form of vulnerability that's not a weakness, but a space you could feel safe enough to share your feelings about something and not be judged or looked at in a weird way, or as less than a man.”
[caption id="attachment_1111407" align="alignnone" width="819"] Garth Voisin, author and creator of The Dear Men Project. Photos courtesy Garth Voisin. - Anygraaf Guest Account[/caption]
He said men often got distracted with the things society said they were or were not supposed to be, so they did not identify who they were as men or as individuals.
Caribbean boys were also taught to hide their feels or to “man up” rather than communicate. He said telling boys “big men don’t cry” conditioned them to believe no one cared about their difficulties and they just had to keep going for fear of being judged. That culture often spread to other aspects of their lives including work and relationships.
He said he was not trying to change the culture but some moderation should be introduced. He said if they did not want to or could not afford to go to therapy, they should be told there were other alternatives – consisten
