News

The Southeast Men’s Group is inviting the community to participate in a workshop focused on suicide-awareness training. 

The group 

Organizer Jeremy Wiens says the men’s group has been thriving. 

“All summer long, we've had about 20 men come out. We kept it going. We never stopped. It's always the third Tuesday of the month, so that kind of keeps it consistent.” 

He adds that the group is focused on giving back and getting more involved in the community, starting with the Kailer Rogal Memorial Fundraiser on September 27. 

“We've got a table to sponsor to become part of that because that's important to the community as well.” 

SafeTALK workshop 

A SafeTALK workshop facilitated by Glenn Schroeder of True Listening will be held in October. 

“It's a great workshop for beginning to talk about suicide and talk about how to get that prevention and how to work through some of those fears, stigmas, and just to have a conversation.” 

Wiens says no experience or previous training is required. 

He hopes community leaders and others who influence residents will take part. 

“We just really want to make that the people who are leading and who have that first initial impact on men and families and people and anybody in general, that they have that opportunity to learn this first and then open up the community to whoever else is available.” 

The workshop is a partnership between the Southeast Men's Group, Southern Health, and Roots of Hope, which is a newly established working group looking to support suicide prevention in Steinbach and surrounding areas. 

“It's all about breaking the stigma of suicide and conversations about that and how do we be a resource, how do we be more. And they focus on everybody. We are focused on men's group, and partnering just seems very natural. We're sponsoring it together and we're putting it all together. It's really exciting.”

The four-hour session costs $75 per person and is limited to 30 participants. 

Wiens notes that Roots of Hope will sponsor the first 15 people who register, and registration is open until all spots are filled. 

“That's kind of how we're going to run it. We don't know how full it's going to be, what to expect, so we started with this. We thought that was a good starting point, and we hope that it fills up. That's our goal.” 

If demand is high, another session may be offered. 

“We can also look at different avenues for the next step of what else is there, because there's a lot more programs available that we can run, too.” 

Wiens hopes participants leave with tools to support those facing depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. 

“That they learn a way of talking with them so that they can have an impact and make a little bit of a difference,” he says. “You can be like, ‘Oh, this was a really good line. I could use this,’ or ‘Oh, I didn't think of working the conversation like that.’ And so those things make a difference.” 

The workshop takes place October 9 from 5 to 9 p.m., at the ROC Eastman warehouse, 110 Industrial Road, Warehouse 10. 

To register, email lhainsworth@southernhealth.ca. 

Resources and support 

Wiens also highlights the Southeast Men’s Group website as a valuable resource. 

“It's a men's group, but the webpage is full of resources for anybody, whether it's children, youth, male, female, doesn't make a difference. There are resources there for anybody who's struggling, whether it's depression, anxiety, suicide. It's just anything to do with mental health.” 

He encourages anyone struggling or anyone supporting a man who is, to try the group. 

“We are a peer-to-peer support group. We're just there to connect guys with other guys so that they feel like they're not alone. And just the impact that has made over our first nine months has been outstanding with even just how our conversations have gone in our group. It's blown me away and I think it's just a lot of good things coming yet.” 

Those interested can email jeremy@southeastmensgroup.ca or call or text 204-381-1167. 

“I often hear that people don't want to be the first one to reach out. And so just start off with, ‘Hey.’ You don't have to go into anything, just say, hey, and I'll respond, and we'll have a conversation and hopefully we can make something happen.” 

Wiens is also willing to meet one-on-one before introducing someone to the group. 

“The group is where they're going to find their connection in a lot of ways.”