As we continue to honor Men’s Mental Health Month, shedding light on platforms that have created a safe and vulnerable space for men to exist should be the goal. Brian ‘Bmac’ McIntosh has collaborated with BET to showcase his ‘For the Fellas TV’ series. This show’s creation has led several male figures, young or seasoned, to discuss the current landscape of manhood and what it means to be masculine.
“It’s amazing to have the opportunity and space to create a platform where we men, especially us Black men, can talk freely about things that mostly get lost in our thoughts or aren’t respected enough to be received by the public,” Mcintosh said about this show. “ The fact that we can bring people who walk differently in their masculinity and have different perspectives about manhood is a blessing for other men, especially young ones.”
For the Fellas have had countless guests, such as Kirk Franklin, Saucy Santana, Bow Wow, Devale Ellis, and many more. “Having these guys on here is amazing because we can share wisdom and unpack a lot of negative things society has taught us about manhood, what it means to be a man, how to deal with our emotions, and how to navigate this current climate of masculinity,” McIntosh said. “Men need to understand that bottling up emotions and acting indifferent to life is no longer acceptable. You are allowed to be human and express yourselves in healthy ways. Some of the stuff our pops and OG’s grew up with were survival methods that, while helpful in the short-term, ultimately ruined them in the long run. We have to break the cycle.”
Men’s Mental health is a sensitive and controversial topic for people because of their views on masculinity and the effects of the patriarchy. According to the CDC website, The suicide rate among males in 2023 was approximately four times higher than the rate among females. Males make up 50 percent of the population but nearly 80 percent of suicides. The average age of men who committed suicide was 23. For Black males, suicide is the third leading cause of death. The factors that impact males the most are economic hardship, emotional stress, public health crises, and cultural stigma around mental health.
“I want to educate and enlighten men about being a human first and a man second. We need to develop empathy, love, understanding, and emotional intelligence to address our unhealthy habits and beliefs and better love ourselves and those around us. We have to get to a place where we are the models for a better future for our community.” McIntosh said. You can watch For the Fellas on BET and YouTube.