Mental Health America (MHA) of Central Carolinas' mission is to provide help, offer hope and promote mental wellness through advocacy, education and prevention for all. For 2024-2025, one focus area is eliminating the stigma that prevents men from seeking help; to change the myth that men should just "muscle through" mental health concerns.

Did you know that when you invest in MHA, you could help someone realize that asking for help shows courage not weakness?

Matt Skura, NFL Veteran and MHA Storyteller volunteer (pictured above L with his father, Doug) is using his platform to advocate for mental health - particularly for men. Matt says, "My mental health journey has been deeply shaped by two significant experiences: my career as an athlete and in my personal life. As a football player at Duke and later in the NFL, I worked with a therapist, learning mental strategies that help me excel on the field and, more importantly, in life."

Tragically, Matt lost his dad to suicide in March 2022 after a fall and a concussion which sidelined his career as an orthopedic surgeon. Matt says, "The loss of my father transformed my understanding of mental health beyond performance. It brought home the importance of recognizing warning signs, knowing the available resources, and processing grief. One of the first calls I made after my dad passed was to my therapist. That relationship and the mental techniques I used in football helped me embrace the emotions of grief, rather than internalizing them."

Of his father, Dr. Douglas Stephen Skura, Matt says, "He was incredibly proud of my brothers and me. Despite his busy career, he was always present and supported our dreams. I cherish those memories, especially the ones we created during my football career."

Matt and his wife Emma call Charlotte home, along with their four young children. Matt reached out to MHA to become a volunteer this summer and was a guest on MHA's digital talk show "Strong Place" in September, honoring his dad's life during suicide prevention month.

Matt's take-away, "You never know how a single word or conversation could save someone's life. The power we have to lift someone out of the darkness is inside every one of us."

Facts:

Nearly 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety but less than half will receive treatment.
Although women attempt suicide more often than men do, men are four times more likely to die by suicide. More than 49,000 individuals died by suicide in the U.S. in 2022, 80% of them were males.
Recognizing signs that you or someone you care about may have a mental health disorder is the first step toward getting treatment. The earlier treatment begins, the more effective it can be.

How MHA Helps (FY2024):

MHA offers 11 free confidential mental health screening tests on our website, which provided guidance and next steps to 3,458 people.
MHA's free Mental Health Education and Suicide Prevention trainings provided action plans to 1,591 community members to recognize when they or others need support. In FY2025, MHA is delivering a young men's mental health series with 100 Black Men of Charlotte.
MHA's Counseling programs provided free therapy to 264 individuals, helping 100% reach at least one of their personal goals.

Please use the DONATE button above to make a donation to MHA’s advocacy, education and prevention programs by December 31st!

Founded in 1933, MHA has been the voice of hope for those impacted by mental illness in the greater Charlotte area for more than 90 years. MHA provides family support services to parents of children with behavioral, emotional or mental health needs; peer support for adults living with chronic mental illnesses; free counseling for those who can’t afford it; and mental health education and preventative trainings to the broader community. MHA’s programs bring together policymakers, parents, advocates and service providers to increase access to mental health care. Free services are available for Cabarrus and Mecklenburg residents thanks to generous donors like you.

www.mhaofcc.org

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By Mental Health America of Central Carolinas

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We See You, Matt

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