Dear Mr. Dad: Of all the non-material things parents can give to their children, what do you think is the most important? A: Well, that’s about as close to an impossible question as I’ve ever been asked. Of course, happiness comes to mind. But then so does the ability to form close, loving relationships. So does...Continue reading
Dear Healthy Men: About three months ago, I became a new dad. I was super excited during the pregnancy, but ever since we brought the baby home, I’ve been in a funk. I’m tired, irritable, short tempered, and I’m just not enjoying fatherhood. Is there something wrong with me? A friend jokingly suggested that I...Continue reading
In the impoverished communities of the Mississippi Delta, where prostate cancer death rates are more than 28 men per 100,000, residents were leery about the concept of research. Delta residents were deeply concerned about exploitation and feared that participating in cancer research would make them guinea pigs. So Freddie White-Johnson created a community cancer outreach...
Rural men are likely to experience a sizeable increase in mental health needs during and after the pandemic, whether they had a prior history or not. Chief among these mental issues is depression, as people feel isolated and alone during the pandemic. Men’s Health Network, a non-profit concerned with men’s health issues, convened a conference...Continue reading
You know what they say: New Year equals a new me, right? Well, despite the overwhelming feeling of relief by many that our calendars have flipped from 2020 to 2021, it is absolutely vital to both men and women to make a plan to stay on top of their health. Some could read that last...
I was introduced to Father Earth in 1993 and wrote about my experience in an article, “The Resurrection of Father Earth and the Return of True Partnership Between Men and Women.” Since then my life has never been the same. When Clarissa Pinkola Estes, author of Women Who Run With The Wolves, offered her poem, chills ran down my...Continue reading
At first glance, you’d think that staying at home (by law) during the COVID-19 pandemic would mean more babies being born. After all, conception rates are seasonal, with the highest rates occurring during the winter months when we’re all huddled inside. Romance and sex are all about contact time, right? Turns out, it’s a bit more complicated...Continue reading
Dear HealthyMen: My wife and I have been trying for a year and have been unable to get pregnant. I want to be there to support her, but I’m suffering too and feeling something less than manly. Is there something wrong with me? Masculinity is a complicated thing. And there’s no more masculine way for...Continue reading
Dear Mr. Dad: I’m a brand new dad and have never been more thrilled in my life. I want to be involved but I never babysat, am the first among my siblings and friends to have a child, and I have no clue what I’m supposed to do with my perfect new daughter. Got any...Continue reading
A couple that had recently emigrated from Myanmar (Burma) was desperate to have a child. However, they had just received terrible news. He was diagnosed with testicular masses on both sides, and it was recommended that he have both testicles removed for fear of cancer. Surgery was planned in 2 days, and a semen sample...Continue reading