DETROIT – The Detroit Police Department is getting involved in raising awareness about men’s mental health.
The entire month of June is dedicated to helping men learn about some of their challenges and develop coping strategies.
Men’s wellness usually receives little attention. Detroit police Chief James White hopes to change that with this event that lets men know it’s okay to ask for help.
“You can get up and just not feel good,” said White. “There are people who suffer from anxiety and depression. There’s people who are in some really dark places, but they function.”
For the second year in a row, DPD has held a Men’s Wellness Matters event offering resources to men.
“A lot of people just don’t want to talk about the mental health struggles, and so bringing light to it with an event like this is extremely positive and extremely necessary and at a precise time, a moment in time where we should be doing so,” White said.
Everything was available at the event held outside the police headquarters, which aimed to let men know they’re not alone in the struggles of daily life.
“Physical, mental, everything holistic under wellness,” said Corporal M.J. Harris. We have our vendors all over here. We have our health trucks; we have barbers over giving out pre-haircuts. Inside, we have massage therapists. For people who don’t want massages, we have eye exams, and there’s one going on upstairs.”
White, who has a background in mental health, says he wants to expand mental health resources across both the city and state.
It also coincides with the chief’s plans to respond to mental health incidents by introducing the department’s crisis intervention team.
Ultimately, It’s all about saving lives and making the lives here worth living.
“I think it’s very important,” White said. “I mean mental health, stress, and all the other things, and certainly, as a man, I can say that we don’t always prioritize our health, and particularly our mental health.”
The first year was a success, and based on Wednesday’s (June 12) event, another one is expected in 2025.
For the record, the event remains completely free to anyone who wants to come.
