Men's mental-health group expanding to Steinbach after success in Ste. Anne

A mental-health support group for men in southeastern Manitoba is expanding to Steinbach after a successful first 18 months.

Jeremy Wiens, who organized the Southeast Men’s Group, says the peer-support group has grown more than expected since its first meeting in Ste. Anne in October 2024.

Wiens, who is also a town of Ste. Anne councillor, says he and co-founder Ryan Pasieczka would have deemed the first SMG meeting a success if five men had showed up.

“We had 26 guys out that night,” Wiens said. “The conversation started immediately around suicide, around loneliness, isolation, depression, addiction. We were like, ‘OK, we hit a chord here.’”

Wiens says he faced his own mental health struggles while experiencing divorce, and found getting support a challenge.

He saw resources for women, children and men experiencing addictions in rural communities.

“But men who are just struggling with day-to-day life, there’s just a gap there and nothing was around,” Wiens said. “I got myself to a better place and where I’m actually able to be part of the community and actually give back.”

Wiens thought peer-to-peer support would be a good way to connect with others who are struggling.

“We’re not professionals," Wiens said. "We’re just guys who show up for each other.”

Wiens says men are often hesitant to meet one-on-one for coffee and a conversation before they decide to join the group, something he attributes to the stigma he faced when he talked about seeing a psychologist to deal with his problems.

Teresa Dukes, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Manitoba, says grassroots initiatives such as this are exciting to see, especially in rural communities.

She says men often deal with high levels of stress and depression, but lack sufficient social support.

Increased feelings of isolation and lack of access to resources are just a few barriers men might encounter, Dukes says, adding economic stress in agricultural communities can also affect mental health.

“Men don’t typically reach out until they’re in crisis — that’s kind of the worst time to reach,” Dukes said. “Ideally, you’re meeting much earlier and you’re meeting them in a place, a space, that is comfortable so that they’ll actually engage in conversations.”