How a Men’s Support Group Helped My Depression

Men’s support groups can provide a space free of toxic masculinity where men can be authentic without fear of rejection

Photo: Sefa Kart/Getty

A year ago, I never would have imagined that I’d be telling a group of guys I had never met before about my struggles with depression. But there I was, doing exactly that, and it has proven to be extremely beneficial. Not just in terms of coping with my depression, but also in the way that I view masculinity, vulnerability, and how I relate to other men.

I’ve experienced depression intermittently since I was a teenager, with episodes varying in both severity and length. In the midst of one depressive episode that began more than a year ago, I was trying to ease my symptoms through a healthy lifestyle (regular strength training, daily meditation, and loading up on whole plant foods), which did — and still does — provide some degree of relief and stabilization.

I had tried an SSRI antidepressant in the past (fluoxetine, or Prozac, specifically) during a particularly severe episode of depression at 18. I distinctly remember disliking the initial effects, feeling that I had been robbed of my personality and become somewhat zombified. Not wanting to feel numb anymore, I stopped taking them — although I knew it was…