Calexico Rotary Club Highlights Men’s Mental Health at Community Awareness Event

-Editorial 

The Rotary Club of Calexico, in conjunction with the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives District 5340, brought together community members, mental health advocates, veterans and local service organizations for its Second Annual Men’s Mental Health Awareness Event, an initiative aimed at encouraging open conversations about mental health challenges facing men and connecting residents with available resources.

A panel, conducted in Spanish, was led by NAMI San Diego and Imperial Counties and focused on Men’s Mental Health. The event was moderated by Jazmin Bueno. 

The event featured Brendon Brown, founder of Reps4Vets and a military veteran, as the keynote speaker. Brown shared his personal journey through military service, mental health struggles, and recovery while discussing the social stigma that often discourages men from seeking help.

Brown told attendees that many men grow up facing expectations that they remain emotionally strong and self-reliant, often leading them to suppress personal struggles rather than discuss them openly.

“There’s a certain standard that men need to live by, and asking for help or doing anything is viewed as a sign of weakness,” Brown said. “We’re often told to suck it up, tough it out and move on.”

Drawing on his experience as a combat veteran, Brown described how those expectations were amplified during his military service. He explained that many service members are taught to endure hardship without showing vulnerability, a mindset that can make it difficult to address emotional and psychological challenges.

Brown said that while resilience is often associated with strength and toughness, he believes it should instead be understood as the ability to recover and adapt during difficult circumstances.

“The keyword for this evening is resiliency,” Brown said. “You don’t have to be tough. You don’t have to be cold-hearted. You have to be resilient.”

During his presentation, Brown recounted a difficult childhood marked by instability and family challenges. He later joined the U.S. Army, where he found structure and purpose. However, after leaving military service, he struggled to adjust to civilian life.

Brown said the loss of the military identity he had built, combined with personal difficulties including divorce and alcohol abuse, contributed to a period of severe depression. He described experiencing anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional distress following deployments, including service in Afghanistan.

He told attendees that at one point, he came close to becoming one of the estimated 22 veterans per day who die by suicide in the United States, a statistic frequently cited in discussions surrounding veteran mental health.

“It wasn’t until I became almost one of those 22 a day that I understood how quick and overwhelming depression can be,” Brown said.

Brown said his experiences changed his perspective on mental health and suicide. Earlier in his military career, he acknowledged viewing individuals who struggled with mental health as weak. After facing his own crisis, he said he gained a greater understanding of how rapidly depression can affect a person.

According to Brown, a turning point in his life came in February 2020 when he reconsidered plans to take his own life. Within weeks, he launched what would become Reps4Vets, a nonprofit organization focused on helping veterans and men through fitness programs, mentorship, and peer support.

Brown said the organization was created to provide practical support and a sense of community for individuals facing similar struggles.

He also introduced what he called a “resiliency pyramid,” a framework he uses to explain the factors that helped him recover. The model includes three key elements: a foundation of personal values or faith, service to others, and fellowship through healthy relationships.

Brown said maintaining a strong support network is critical, particularly for men who may be reluctant to discuss personal struggles. He encouraged attendees to surround themselves with people who provide accountability and positive influence rather than reinforce unhealthy behaviors.

“Who we surround ourselves with matters,” Brown said.

Service to others was another major theme of his remarks. Brown encouraged participants to find purpose by volunteering, mentoring, or contributing to their communities, arguing that helping others can provide meaning during difficult times.

“If you’re good at something, you enjoy it, it helps people, and you can potentially make a living from it, that can be your purpose,” he said.

Brown also stressed the importance of gratitude and self-reflection, suggesting that focusing on positive aspects of life can help counter negative thought patterns and emotional distress.

The Men’s Mental Health Awareness Event was held during Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month and drew participants from across Imperial Valley. The Rotary Club of Calexico expressed hope that the discussions would encourage more men to seek support when facing emotional or mental health challenges.

Brown concluded his remarks by encouraging attendees to recognize that adversity is a universal part of life and that resilience, rather than isolation, is key to overcoming challenges.

“You’re either about to be in a storm, you’re in a storm, or you’re coming out of a storm,” Brown said. “The question is how we respond when those storms come.”