Public invited to join live, online conversation with mental health professionals and community voices focused on stigma, support and making it okay to ask for help
BATAVIA, N.Y. — September 15, 2026 — Powered by Authenticity will host a special live podcast on September 24, 2026, focused on the mental health challenges facing men today. Host Emily Carlson will bring together mental health professionals and community voices for a candid discussion about stigma, lived experience, available resources and how we can better support men who may be struggling. The event is open to the public via live stream on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.
The numbers underscore the importance of the conversation. In 2024, 48,824 people in the United States died by suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate among males was nearly four times higher than the rate among females. An estimated 25.6 million U.S. men also experienced a mental illness that year.
“Talking about mental health has to become part of our everyday conversations,” said Carlson. “We need men to know that it is okay to say they are struggling. It is okay to ask for help. We also need to give families and friends the tools to recognize when someone may need support and understand how to start that conversation.”
The panel will combine professional expertise, lived experience and community perspective to explore what men are facing today and why many still hesitate to seek support. The conversation will also address how to recognize when someone may be struggling, how to start difficult conversations and where to turn for help.
Featured Panelists
Aaron Garmon, M.S., LMHC
Staff Clinician
The Relationship Center
Jon Winters
Empower You Coachsulting
Karl Shallowhorn
Mental Health Association in New York State
Joe Ray
Lighthouse Technology Services
Powered by Authenticity would like to thank Kristen Cronyn of Meet and Eat Charcuterie for opening her space to our panelists and giving us a place to come together for this important conversation.
Viewers can join the live stream on September 24 through Powered by Authenticity on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Event details and the Facebook Live stream are available here: Men’s Mental Health Live Event.
The complete special episode will be released on September 28, 2026, on all major podcast platforms.
Mental Health Resources
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or concerned about someone who may be in crisis can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
About Powered by Authenticity
Powered by Authenticity was created to give people a place to share their stories and give others an opportunity to learn from them. Host Emily Carlson is a Western New York native, entrepreneur and speaker. The podcast brings together voices from business, leadership and the community for candid conversations about success, struggle and the experiences that happen in between.
