Ironic, yes, but also potentially life-saving.
Dr. Rich Mahogany, a fictional therapist with a mental health message for men only, uses ‘bro’ humor to make fun of professional advice, like Will Ferrell makes fun of news people in Anchorman. But, through a similar deep, authoritative voice, comes an attempt to tackle serious issues like stress, anger, depression, addiction and suicide, using videos and a website known as “Man Therapy.” 
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The sometimes crude humor cuts through the stigma of mental illness to address the pressures of masculinity. Being the strong, silent type—never sharing emotions until they’ve reached a boiling point–can take a dangerous toll on mental health. ‘Dr. Mahogany’ prods men to “get off their keisters” and try exercises and tips to help improve their well-being.
The site was developed in 2012, originally designed to reach men in Colorado, a state with one of the highest suicide rates in the country. Its appeal has since stretched far beyond Colorado; in the past three years, Man Therapy has attracted three quarters of a million views.
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Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death for adults in the U.S. and men are most at risk–accounting for 78% of fatalities in 2013, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The Man Therapy team of mental health experts is especially focused on reaching a specific group, what they call “double-jeopardy men,” working guys with the most risk factors who are the least likely to seek help. They use language that can resonate with these men who might otherwise not want to think about their mental wellbeing.
ManTherapy.org is a nonprofit collaboration between the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention, The Carson J. Spencer Foundation and the advertising agency, Cactus.
The website will soon come out with a new version that can be customized, allowing users to match resources with individual needs.
Offering, as Dr. Rich Mahogany would say, “Therapy the way a man would do it.”
(WATCH the video below)
Editor’s note: The below video is slightly “colorful” at times, we suggest discretion among younger Good News readers.
Funny and Fabulous… Pass it on (below)