When people talk about men’s health, the conversation usually centers on diet, exercise, or cholesterol numbers. What we don’t talk about nearly enough is mental health. For too long, men have been told to stay silent, to tough it out, to carry their struggles alone. That silence is killing us.

I know because I lived it.

Addiction shaped my life from childhood. My father’s drug use brought chaos and hardship into our home, and though my mother did everything she could to protect us, his addiction eventually claimed his life. Years later, I found myself in a marriage marked by the same struggle. I tried to hold everything together, but the broken trust and isolation were crushing. Ending the marriage was one of the hardest choices I’ve ever made, but it was the only way to protect myself and my children.

That’s when the real battle began–the one inside my own head. Depression and rage became constant companions. I woke each day exhausted and ended each night with racing thoughts. Like so many men, I believed silence was strength. I told myself to endure it, to carry the weight without complaint. But silence doesn’t make you stronger. It makes you sink.

My turning point came at Lakeside Medical Practice in Lakewood. For the first time, I felt like my mental health was treated as seriously as any physical illness. The team there introduced me to Spravato, a treatment I hadn’t even known existed. By then, I had tried traditional medications without success and was running out of hope. Spravato wasn’t a miracle cure, but under the guidance of the staff at Lakeside, it gave me something I hadn’t felt in years: relief.

That relief created space for healing. It allowed me to confront the trauma I had buried for decades, to engage in therapy more effectively, and to show up for my children in ways I couldn’t before. Lakeside Medical Practice wasn’t just another doctor’s office–it was a lifeline.

My story is personal, but it speaks to a broader truth. Across this country, countless men are carrying invisible burdens–depression, anxiety, unresolved trauma–without ever seeking help. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among men, not because help doesn’t exist, but because stigma and silence keep too many from reaching for it.

This must change. Men’s health is not just about our bodies; it’s about our minds. We need to normalize conversations about mental health the same way we talk about diet and exercise. We need to raise awareness of treatments like Spravato, and we need to ensure that clinics like Lakeside Medical Practice are accessible to more men who need them. Above all, we need to stop confusing silence with strength. Asking for help is not weakness–it is courage.

My journey proves that cycles can be broken. Addiction and depression shaped my past, but treatment, therapy, and support at Lakeside Medical Practice in Lakewood shaped my recovery. I share my story because I believe men deserve to know they are not alone, and that there are places ready to help.

So, to the men reading this: don’t wait until the silence becomes unbearable. Talk to your doctor. Ask questions. If you’re in western New York, consider reaching out to Lakeside Medical Practice. The strongest step you can take–for yourself, for your family, and for your future–is to ask for help

Michael Haddad is a Jamestown resident.