By Eric Sigler, KCH Grief Support Specialist
Published: August 23, 2022

We don’t pay enough attention to men’s emotional health. Men have been stereotyped into predictable boxes; men never show emotions and men certainly don’t share their feelings with other men! Unfortunately, by perpetuating this stereotype, men’s mental health and well-being can be compromised. By encouraging and engaging in social connections, we know that support group interactions act as a buffer against stressful or negative life experiences on mental health. Studies have shown that in the long term, men who participate in support groups with other men may facilitate more open and supportive relationships with women and with men.

Men’s support groups can normalize men’s experiences and help to reduce feelings of social isolation, e.g. COVID, and it can also lead men to shift their focus to more open and supportive relationships with others. In difficult times, men’s groups can also provide men with supportive social networks in their everyday lives.

Reasons to participate in a Men’s Group

• Being a part of a grief share group will make you feel more at peace and embrace the grieving process as part of your healing journey. You allow yourself to come to terms with the loss of your loved one with compassionate people in the group. 
• By participating in men’s groups, you learn healthy coping skills and how to continue living a positive and successful life after a loss. 
• Participation makes you aware of the fact that you are not alone.   
• A grief support group is a safe space where you can share your stories, challenges, and pitfalls related to loss without fear of judgment, ridicule, or misunderstanding. 

Men’s Group at Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care (KCH)

The KCH Men’s Group offers space for the unique grief styles of men while creating opportunities to benefit from the support of male peers. Each group includes four support sessions designed to offer a safe environment where participants may share their grief and explore creative opportunities to learn from one another. 

Our next Men’s group session will occur in September and meet every Tuesday (Sept 6, 13, 20 and 27) from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at Solace House, our Community Center for Grief and Healing, located at 8012 State Line Rd, Suite 202, Shawnee Mission, KS 66208.

For more information about the KCH Men’s Group or to sign-up for an upcoming session please contact Eric Sigler, Grief Support Specialist, at esigler@KCHospice.org.