Why Men Need to Connect With Other Men

Join our online support groups at 👉 www.groupsformen.com

This blog is a space for honest stories, thought-provoking questions, and practical tools for personal and collective growth. It’s inspired by my work as a coach, facilitator, and founder of The Lost Art of Random Conversations — and by my life as another human doing their best to make sense of it all and enjoy the journey.

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It’s a challenging time to be a man.

Whenever I say this, I sometimes hear:

“Oh, give me a break. Men have nothing to complain about.”

I get it.

On the surface, it can seem like men don’t have much to struggle with—especially when you consider the privileges that come with being male, particularly for white men, in societies that have historically favored them.

But let me be clear:

This isn’t about who has it worse.

It’s not a competition in suffering.

What I am saying is this:

It’s a challenging time for everyone.

And men have a crucial role to play in lifting up our communities, rebuilding trust, and creating a world with more balance, integrity, and connection.

This is especially true as men continue to be responsible for a disproportionate amount of violence, corruption, and injustice globally.

The way forward isn’t isolation or silence.

It’s connection. It’s transformation. It’s stepping up.

The Strength in Brotherhood

n today’s world, strength in men is too often misinterpreted as silence.

Independence is mistaken for self-sufficiency.

Emotional honesty is viewed as weakness.

Many men grow up hearing:

“Man up.”

“Push through.”

“Don’t show emotion.”

“Carry the weight of the world without cracking.”

But what if real strength isn’t in holding it all in—but in reaching out?

What if the strongest thing we could do as men is to lean on each other?

To connect.

To speak honestly.

To admit when we’re struggling.

This isn’t about weakness.

It’s about being real.

It’s about showing up fully. Living fully.

And that starts with the courage to connect.

Why Connection Matters

Every man will face moments that shake him to his core.

• Relationships that falter.

• Careers that derail.

• Addictions that creep in.

• Financial stress that builds.

• Dreams that slip out of reach.

In those moments, even when we’re surrounded by people who care about us, it’s easy to feel alone.

It’s easy to believe we’re the only ones struggling.

That we’re the only ones carrying this invisible burden.

But the truth is—you are not alone.

Other men are walking similar paths, fighting similar battles.

When we come together—when we share our experiences, fears, and triumphs—we find strength in our collective vulnerability.

We find wisdom. Perspective. Support.

And most importantly, we remember who we truly are.

The Cost of Isolation

The price of isolation is steep.

🚨 Men are 4x more likely to die by suicide than women.¹

🚨 Men are 3x more likely than women to die from “deaths of despair”—which include suicide, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related illnesses.²

🚨 In the UK, suicide is the #1 cause of death for men under 50.³

🚨 In 2021, 15% of men reported having no close friends—a fivefold increase since 1990.⁴

🚨 In 1990, 55% of men reported having at least six close friends. By 2021, that number dropped to 27%.⁵

🚨 18.3 million children in the U.S. grow up without their biological father in the home, disproportionately impacting boys’ emotional development and social behavior.⁶

And yet, the stigma around seeking help keeps so many men from reaching out—until it’s too late.

But connection can change that.

A strong circle of men can challenge you, encourage you, and hold you accountable in ways few others can.

They can reflect your strength and remind you of your worth—especially in moments when you forget.

Why Join a Men’s Group?

A men’s group isn’t just a meeting.

It’s a brotherhood.

It’s a space where you can drop the mask.

Where you can leave societal expectations behind.

Where you can show up as your authentic, unfiltered self.

It’s a space where struggles are met with understanding, not judgment.

Where joy, fear, anger, and purpose are all on the table.

Together, we:

✅ Celebrate each other’s wins.

✅ Sit with each other’s pain.

✅ Hold each other accountable.

✅ Grow as individuals—and as men.

At Groups For Men, we’ve created a way for men to connect—no matter where they are in the world.

Through our online Zoom support groups and online community, we’re building a global network where men from all walks of life can support and strengthen one another.

🔹 It’s accessible.

🔹 It’s powerful.

🔹 And it’s changing lives.

An Invitation to You (Or the Men in Your Life)

If any of this resonates with you—if you feel a pull toward connection, toward something more—this is your invitation.

Join one of our online men’s support groups at 👉 www.groupsformen.com.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never done something like this before.

What matters is that you show up.

• Show up for yourself.

• For the men who need your insights as much as you need theirs.

• For the brotherhood you deserve.

Together, we can redefine what it means to be a man.

Not as solitary warriors.

But as part of a community that lifts each other higher.

Because strength isn’t about standing alone.

It’s about standing together.

Will you join us?

📍 Sign up for an online men’s group today: 👉 www.groupsformen.com

Taken in Carbondale, Colorado in September 2024. Photo credit: Will Sardinsky at www.willsardinsky.com

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1. Colorado Academy. (n.d.). Of boys and men: A SPEAK lecture by Richard Reeves. Retrieved January 3, 2025, from https://news.coloradoacademy.org/of-boys-and-men-a-speak-lecture-by-richard-reeves/

2. Jacobin. (2023, September). Of boys and men: Work, despair, and struggling wages in education. Retrieved January 3, 2025, from https://jacobin.com/2023/09/boys-men-work-despair-struggling-wages-education

3. Reeves, R. V. (2022). Of boys and men: Why the modern male is struggling, why it matters, and what to do about it. Brookings Institution Press.

4. American Survey Center. (2021). The state of American friendship: Change, challenges, and loss. Retrieved January 3, 2025, from https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/

5. Reeves, R. V. (2022). Of boys and men: Why the modern male is struggling, why it matters, and what to do about it. Brookings Institution Press.

6. National Fatherhood Initiative. (n.d.). Retrieved January 3, 2025, from https://www.fatherhood.org/.