Men don't cry (Mental health)
Toughen up, mate, and so Jake did. A short story of invisible illness, rural Australia, and the cost of silence.
Jake, standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, was a tradie by profession. He lived on a farm in rural Victoria, Australia. His small town, with just 25 or so families, was the kind where everyone knew each other.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, Jake stared at his iPhone.
Wednesday, 22 May, 6:00 PM, Cloudy 3°C (feels like 0).
His room was dark, matching his mood and the weather on screen. It was only 6 PM, but it felt like midnight. Dark. Cold. Silent. Even the crickets were not chirping tonight.
In Australia, March to May was autumn, often wet, bleak, and winter-like.
The noise in his head drowned out any sense of peace. He had always been the strong and tall one, never showing weakness. But lately, the weight of it all felt unbearable.
Growing up in a tough country environment, Jake learned early that men did not talk much about their feelings. Unless you were...
The rest of Jake's story, what happens that evening, and why it matters for men's mental health is told in full on Medium at the link above.