Brothers, let's take a moment to check in with eachother. No, seriously. Put down the beer bong and hear me out.
As fraternity brothers, we love to have a good time. From wild parties to ridiculous stunts, we're always up for some fun and games. But beneath the surface of all that craziness, there's something more important we need to talk about: mental health.
College can be a tough time for many of us. We're away from home, trying to balance coursework, extracurricular activities, and a social life. We're often introduced to drugs and alcohol for the first time, or in a much more accessible way. And while it might seem like everyone around you is having the time of their lives, the truth is that many of us are struggling in silence.
That's why it's so important to check in with your fraternity brothers. Your friend might look like they're doing great, but you never know what's going on behind closed doors. They could be dealing with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues that they're too afraid to talk about. I cannot tell you the countless hours I've spent with my brothers as they've grieved the loss of a parent, sibling,or friend , struggled over addiction and getting clean, and countless other battles.
As someone who has struggled with mental health in the past, I can tell you firsthand how much it helps to have a support system in place. It's easy to feel like you're alone in your struggles, but the truth is that there are people out there who care about you and want to help you through it.
So, what can you do to help your fraternity brothers? First and foremost, just be there for them. Listen when they need to talk, offer words of encouragement, and be a shoulder to cry on if necessary. And if you notice that someone seems particularly down or withdrawn, don't be afraid to ask them how they're doing. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple question to open up the conversation. If you're not sure how to begin these talks setting up week night where brothers can come hangout when sober or sober adjacent and really talk about things that they're struggling with, or this even gives people a chance to be that support system that many people so desperately need.
We all have our moments of stupidity and degeneracy, but that doesn't mean we can't also be there for each other when things get tough. So, brothers, let's make a pact to check in with each other every once in a while. Let's look out for our own, and let's make sure that everyone feels supported and loved. After all, isn't that what brotherhood is all about?
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