June is Men’s Health Month – a necessary time to recognize men’s mental health and the decreased likelihood that men will seek treatment for symptoms of mental illness compared to women (National Institute of Mental Health). State Representative Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) joins MHAOhio to talk about men’s mental health and what we can all do to improve access to services and break down stigma.
“This bill is the right thing to do now because people are suffering,” Rep. Jarrells says. “When it passes, it will impact the lives of people forever.”
This bill is an essential first step for Rep. Jarrells because it lays the groundwork for other policies he hopes to create. In his words, “If we are going to build a strong house, we have to have a strong foundation, and our current Revised Code is not the strongest foundation we can have to build a system of care that reaches everybody.”
Language matters to Rep. Jarrells. It is the power of words that brought him to this work in the first place. He grew up in downtown Cleveland and had to take the city bus to school. He explains that there was only one seat open on the bus one day, and it was next to a woman who appeared to be homeless. Rep. Jarrells took a seat next to her, and just moments later, a group of young male students from another school came onto the bus. The students began to harass the woman, calling her names, saying she smelled, and completely disregarding the circumstances that may have led her to that point in her life. When no adults stood up in her defense, it was 13-year-old Jarrells who did.
“I got all these congratulatory praises from the other people on the bus, but I did not understand why they could not speak up. Why did it have to be me?” he says. “What resonated with me at that moment was the realization that something in our system led to this – that led to that woman being homeless and led to those boys saying those things to her. Where did our system go wrong?”
Rep. Jarrells spent the rest of his youth studying hard in school. He then went on to Hiram College to study political science and economics, all to address policy gaps. After graduation, he was selected as an Ohio Legislative Service Commission Fellow, the starting point of his political career. Now, ten years later, his focus is to transform policies in a way that reflects the economic, geographic, and cultural challenges of communities throughout Ohio.
“What is so unique about mental health and addiction is that it impacts everyone,” he explains. “It does not matter if you speak English or Spanish, if you are a Muslim or Christian, or if you are gay or straight. It does not even matter if you are rich or poor, these issues impact people across our entire state. I want to build policies that reach all people, leaving no person behind, so there is no wrong door for people to walk through.”
While policy changes are critical, Rep. Jarrells explains that we all have a part to play in building a better system of care. By normalizing conversations about mental health, we can reduce the stigma and shine a light on the needs of all those who are impacted by mental illness.
“We have normalized talking about physical illnesses like cancer and diabetes,” he says. “If we could begin to normalize these conversations about having anxiety or depression, or having thoughts of suicide, or struggling to maintain sobriety, everything would change. If more people had that access to support in an environment that was nurturing enough to talk about how they are feeling, we could save lives.”
However, Rep. Jarrells knows firsthand that those conversations are limited right now, especially among men, which is why he makes it a point to check in on his male friends. He explains that his Mental Health First Aid training has helped him make sure those he cares about get the support they need.
“Our society has normalized the toughness of men,” he says. “We do not tell anybody when something is going on, or we shrug it off. That harms us even more. So, I always talk about therapy with my friends and how important it is to have somebody to talk to that is not close to the situation and can give you advice on how to navigate it.”
As Rep. Jarrells continues his work, he stresses the importance of self-care and being open and honest with everyone in his life.
“I am not perfect. I am still going to therapy,” he says. “I still have things that I am working through. So, even in a position of power and privilege to write laws, I am still a work in progress. I think, as legislators, telling our personal stories also helps normalize the fact that you can still do good work even if you are not fully where you want to be.”
MHAOhio greatly appreciates Rep. Jarrells for sharing his perspective on mental illness and being a champion for those experiencing it. His lifelong advocacy and strong expertise in this area are much needed in Ohio, and we are thankful to have him as a partner in our work.
Click here if you are interested in signing up for a Mental Health First Aid training.
