RIDOH Launches New Men’s Mental Health Campaign

Published on Tuesday, September 22, 2026

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is launching a new statewide campaign targeting working-age men to address the stigma surrounding mental health. Man Therapy, a research-based, nationally acclaimed campaign, takes a creative approach to reshaping the conversation about men’s mental health in Rhode Island

The campaign provides resources for men and the people in their lives on depression, divorce, and suicide, among other topics. The campaign resources are available at www.mantherapy.org. Rhode Island resources are available on the “Get Support Close to Home” tab on the main page.

“This site and this new campaign are a way for people to learn more about men’s mental health, examine their own challenges, and consider steps that can put them on the path to treatment and recovery, all within an easy-to-access online portal,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD. “With Man Therapy, people can learn about mental health and explore options to support their mental health wellness, ranging from personal approaches to professional therapy and other resources.”

The campaign is running from September through April online, on social media, and through gas station ad platforms.

Upon visiting www.mantherapy.org, men and their loved ones will find they have a virtual appointment with Dr. Rich Mahogany—a character created to greet visitors, make them feel at ease, and provide an overview of what they will find and explore during their visit. Dr. Mahogany is dedicated to cutting through denial with a fresh approach, using a straightforward style and practical, useful advice for men. His tone debunks the age-old stigma that says mental health disorders are an unmanly sign of weakness.

The campaign is a part of broader work to prevent suicide and promote mental health among Rhode Island men. It builds on the success of the award-winning “You Good, Man?” campaign which provided an emotional appeal to encourage men to check in on the mental health of their friends and colleagues.

RIDOH’s Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Grant team focuses on men ages 25-64, a population with a disproportionately high burden of suicide. From 2020 to 2024, the rate of suicide deaths among Rhode Island men was almost two times higher than the rate of suicide for the overall Rhode Island population. An average of 79 suicide fatalities was seen amongst Rhode Island men every year during this period. From 2020 to 2024, 61% of males ages 25-64 who died by suicide had a known circumstance of a current mental health problem at the time of death. Additionally, according to the 2024 Rhode Island Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey, 10.9% of men reported that they usually or always feel lonely.

In addition to Man Therapy, RIDOH’s suicide prevention efforts also extend to younger Rhode Islanders. The Department recently received the SAMHSA Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention grant, which empowers states and Tribes to implement youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies for individuals up to age 24. Together, these initiatives support a comprehensive approach across the lifespan to suicide prevention while recognizing that different populations may benefit from different strategies and resources.

For more information and to explore the resources available through Man Therapy, visit www.mantherapy.org. Visit preventsuicideri.org for local resources, trainings, and data.