Men's Mental Health Awareness Month

Any magazine in the grocery store line will tell you Men's Health Month again. You’ve likely seen the usual headlines: eat better, get a checkup, take a walk, lower your stress. These may be helpful tips, but let’s talk about the real health crisis.

It’s not just about men. It’s about all of us.

The slowest, deadliest killer isn’t in your body. It’s in your silence. Your pride. Your pretending. It’s the lie that strong people—especially men—should handle life on their own.

Chances are, your biggest fear isn’t dying. It’s being exposed. Weak. Needy. Human.

Through countless examples and interactions, we have learned that it’s better to fake it than speak it. We’d rather implode with a smile on our face than choke out three honest words: "I need help."

But let’s be clear: That’s not strength. That’s suicide in slow motion.

When Was the Last Time You Leaned On Anyone?

James 5:16 doesn’t sugarcoat it:

"Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed."

Not "hide your pain." Not "tough it out." Confess. Pray. Heal.

God never asked you to do this alone. Even Jesus didn’t.

When the cross was looming, Jesus didn’t hide behind His mission. He brought His fear to His friends:

"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow… stay here and keep watch with me." (Matthew 26:38)

If the Son of God needed others—why do you think you don’t?

Pretending is Not Courage. Vulnerability Is.

Take a look in the mirror. Stop hiding. You’ve been pretending for too long, and it’s costing you more than you admit. Stop managing appearances. Trying to look like you’ve got it all together is wearing you down and pushing people away. Stop calling burnout “discipline” or isolation “independence.” It’s not noble to be numb, and it’s not brave to be alone.

Start telling the truth:

"I'm angry all the time."
"I'm numbing out every night."
"My marriage is dying."
"I don't even know who I am anymore."

Proverbs 18:1 tells us:

"Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment."

Translation: Isolation isn’t noble. It’s foolish. It will take you down.

You were never built to carry life by yourself. And if you keep trying, something will break—your health, your relationships, your faith, your future.

So What Now?

Say the hard thing. Name what’s actually going on. Use real words. Drop the mask. Don’t hide behind sarcasm, emojis, or spiritual noise. Tell the truth. Speak it to someone safe. Not someone who will try to fix you or change the subject—but someone who will sit with you and not walk away. And then do the hardest part: keep showing up. Even when it feels weak. Even when it feels like nothing’s changing. That’s how healing starts.

And if you don’t know where to start—start here.

A Starting Place

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to stop pretending and take one real step. Sign up to attend a Crucible Men’s or Women’s Retreat. Sign up for an intro session with a certified Crucible coach and talk with someone who’s walked through their own fire—and knows how to walk with you through yours.

You won’t be handed a quick fix. You won’t just have out-of-context Bible verses thrown at your wounds. Nobody will try to “fix” your life. But you will be challenged to tell the truth. You will experience others who listen without flinching, who create a space where you don’t have to perform, impress, or pretend.

This Men’s Health Month, don’t settle for surviving. Speak the words you’ve buried for years and find real freedom. This is your invitation to come and find it. Because the bravest words you’ll ever say are: “I need help.”