RALEIGH, N.C. — Therapists are addressing mental health, especially since June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

Marc Hardy is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in Raleigh who advises men to take their mental health seriously.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men were four times more likely than women to die by suicide in 2022.

“Because they felt like they were at the wit’s end, not feeling as if they were connected, they need to at least feel connected though, they feel disconnected and the irrational thoughts get in there, and they think about the solution to take their lives,” Hardy said.

Oftentimes there is a stigma that comes along with men and their mental health. Hardy says that stigma makes it hard for men to talk about their feelings.

“I don’t know many men who have never thought what about it, but more so it exists because they only do what they have seen, that was modeled for them. Men are protectors, when you see the protectors, there is vulnerability,” Hardy said.

Hardy recommends therapy.

“Therapy is important, that’s a supportive gesture that they might not do for themselves, silence is actually saying something,” Hardy explained.