Manitoba Men's Mental Health Group Doubles to 2nd City

When Jeremy Wiens organized the first Southeast Men's Group meeting in Ste. Anne, Manitoba, he hoped five men would show up. Twenty-six walked through the door that October 2024 night, and the conversation immediately turned to suicide, loneliness, and depression.

Now, after 18 months of success, the peer support group is expanding to nearby Steinbach. Wiens says between 20 and 30 men attend each meeting, with some driving over an hour to participate.

The group was born from Wiens' own struggle to find help during his divorce. He noticed resources existed for women, children, and men facing addiction in rural communities, but nothing addressed everyday mental health challenges men face.

"Men who are just struggling with day-to-day life, there's just a gap there," Wiens said. After finding his own path to wellness, he decided to create the support he wished he'd had.

The group isn't run by professionals. "We're just guys who show up for each other," Wiens explains. Meetings include guest speakers like therapists and counsellors, then break into smaller groups where men can share their struggles and victories.

The Ripple Effect

Teresa Dukes, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Manitoba, says grassroots initiatives like this are exactly what rural communities need. Men typically don't reach out until they're in crisis, she notes, which is often too late.

Rural men face unique barriers including isolation, limited resources, and fear that sharing problems will spread as rumors through tight-knit communities. Economic stress in agricultural areas adds another layer of pressure.

"The idea that you've opened up space to connect with other people is probably one of the most significant factors that will reduce depression," Dukes said. Peer groups tap into what specific communities need in ways traditional services can't always reach.

There's also a cultural component. "Men are often told to just push through, or pull up your bootstraps and make it through," Dukes adds. Groups like SMG challenge that harmful narrative.

Wiens says seeing members step up and improve their lives makes the work worthwhile. The group funds itself through community donations and fundraising concerts, proving locals believe in the mission.

The Steinbach expansion launches March 3 at the Southeast Event Centre, with monthly meetings continuing in both cities. Wiens has one message for men who are struggling: "It's OK to not be OK, but it's not OK to stay there."