What Happened To Me

Why do so many men suffer in silence when it comes to mental health, especially around work, identity, and purpose?

This episode explores the emotional cost of job loss, the stigma around seeking help, and the silent battles many men face. It’s based on the research study “Beyond Workers’ Compensation: Men’s Mental Health In and Out of Work” by John L. Oliffe, PhD, RN and Christina S. E. Han, MA, published in the American Journal of Men’s Health.

Through reflection and analysis, we discuss how work-related mental health struggles often go unseen — and why men deserve better support, beyond compensation.

This episode was produced with the help of NotebookLM, supporting our mission to raise awareness around men’s mental health.

n this episode, we challenge the conventional narrative that masculinity is the root of men’s mental health struggles. Drawing from the article “Redefining Men’s Mental Health Approaches” by John Barry, we explore why many well-intentioned interventions fall shortת and how shifting the focus can lead to more effective support.

Using a compelling marine biology analogy, Barry makes the case for four key ideas: masculinity isn’t the core problem, current research needs a new and less biased direction, masculinity can be a strength, and truly male-centred approaches are essential for meaningful therapy.

This episode was created with NotebookLM and calls for a smarter, more compassionate way to support men’s mental health—one that moves beyond blame and toward real understanding.

📝 Read the full article here:

This episode unpacks key findings from a national study on men who present at hospitals with suicidal thoughts or self-harm. The research reveals that more men arrive with suicidal ideation than with physical self-harm—and that drug and alcohol overdose is the most common method. Alarmingly, many of these men had no prior contact with mental health services before their crisis.

We discuss the critical role of emergency departments as intervention points, the urgent need for follow-up care, and the importance of community-based support and substance use programs tailored to men’s needs.

This episode was created with NotebookLM and is based on the article “Understanding the Crisis: Hospital Presenting Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm Among Males.”

📝 Read the full article here:

In this episode, we focus on practical ways men can care for their mental health—from recognizing early symptoms to the power of physical activity, social connection, and seeking professional support. We also explore the role of mindfulness and the importance of breaking the stigma around men’s emotional struggles.

This episode was created with NotebookLM and draws from the article “What Helps Men with Mental Health?”, offering insights and actionable steps for men looking to take care of their minds and lives.

Read the full article here:

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked barriers preventing men from seeking professional mental health support. From societal stigma to the lack of gender-sensitive services and biases in diagnosis and treatment, we dive into the silent struggles many men face, and the unique ways distress can show up in their lives.

This episode was created with NotebookLM and is based on the article “Where Are All the Men? A Model for Explaining the Barriers to Men’s Access to Professional Mental Health Support” by Dr. Yair Apter.

Read the full article here:

In this powerful episode, Paul shares his deeply personal journey of meeting his ex-wife and how their relationship evolved into one of domestic abuse. He reflects on the red flags he now recognizes, how he ultimately found the strength to leave, and the profound impact the abuse had on his family. Paul’s goal is to inspire and support other men who may be facing similar experiences, offering them insight, understanding, and hope for a way forward. This is a story of resilience and a call to break the silence around domestic abuse against men.

About the Podcast:

What Happened to Me is produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope for Men⁠⁠⁠⁠, a mental health platform dedicated to supporting male survivors of sexual violence. We connect survivors with therapists who truly understand their experiences. To find the right therapist for you, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Therapist Directory⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you’d like to share your story on our podcast, reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠. We’re here to help you be heard.

Alternatively,

you can visit this webpage to record a message and share your story. You can choose to remain anonymous, and your story may be featured in one of our upcoming episodes. It doesn’t need to be a big or sad story—just something you feel like sharing. It could be about how you’re feeling today, your first love, your relationships, a memory of grief, or anything you think might resonate with or help someone else. No story is too small

Host, Edit and Production: ⁠Tom Garber

Original Music: Ori Alboher, Yotam Agam, Damon Power, James Forest, Kyle Preston.

If you’d like to support our mission, please visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page.⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of What Happened to Me, I had the privilege of speaking with Gregory David, who courageously shared his healing journey. We explored the challenges he faced, what helped him move forward, and the approaches that fell short. His story offers valuable insights and inspiration for anyone navigating their own path to recovery.

Please note that this episode includes discussions the topics of childhood sexual abuse, addiction, depression, and suicide ideation. Listen with care, and if you need support, resources are available

If you’d like to purchase Gregory David’s book, Trauma Recovery Manual, you can find it here: https://amzn.eu/d/auM5tVe.

About the Podcast:

What Happened to Me is produced by ⁠⁠⁠Hope for Men⁠⁠⁠, a mental health platform dedicated to supporting male survivors of sexual violence. We connect survivors with therapists who truly understand their experiences. To find the right therapist for you, visit our ⁠⁠⁠Therapist Directory⁠⁠⁠.

If you’d like to share your story on our podcast, reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠. We’re here to help you be heard.

Credits:

Host, Edit and Production: ⁠Tom Garber

Original Music: Ori Alboher, Amulets, Jonny Hughes, Kyle Preston, Michael Vignola, VESHZA and Yotam Agam.

Support Us:

If you’d like to support our mission, please visit our ⁠⁠⁠Patreon page.⁠⁠

In this episode of What Happened to Me, Michele Battistioli sits down with Bob Welch to discuss his experience co-writing Boy in the Mirror: An Athletic Director’s Struggle to Survive Sexual Abuse as a Child. Together, they explore the moving story of Jimmy Bartko, former athletic director who in 2017 publicly revealed that a priest had abused him when he was a child, keeping this secret for over 40 years. We asked Bob Welch what the book meant to him, how the connection between him and Jim Bartko developed, and we discussed how the story of a survivor of abuse can be told.

To learn more about Bob’s work, visit bobwelchwriter.com.

About the Podcast:

What Happened to Me is produced by ⁠⁠Hope for Men⁠⁠, a mental health platform dedicated to supporting male survivors of sexual violence. We connect survivors with therapists who truly understand their experiences. To find the right therapist for you, visit our ⁠⁠Therapist Directory⁠⁠.

If you’d like to share your story on our podcast, reach out to us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. We’re here to help you be heard.

Credits:

Host: Michele Battistioli

Editing: Tom Garber

Original Music: Ori Alboher (explore more of his work on ⁠Spotify⁠)

Special Thanks: Ali Pourrahim

Support Us:

If you’d like to support our mission, please visit our ⁠⁠Patreon page.⁠⁠

In this episode of What Happened to Me, Dylan St. Gabriel courageously shares his personal story of surviving sexual violence and the journey that followed.

Dylan’s story is one of resilience, healing, and hope.

Tune in to hear his powerful message, and if you’re moved by his story, show your support through these channels -

YouTube: Dylan St. Gabriel

Instagram: @_dylanstgabriel

Cashapp: $dylangabriel13

About the Podcast:

What Happened to Me is produced by ⁠Hope for Men⁠, a mental health platform dedicated to supporting male survivors of sexual violence. We connect survivors with therapists who truly understand their experiences. To find the right therapist for you, visit our ⁠Therapist Directory⁠.

If you’d like to share your story on our podcast, reach out to us at ⁠[email protected]⁠. We’re here to help you be heard.

Credits:

Original music for this podcast is by Ori Alboher. Discover more of his work on ⁠Spotify⁠

Support Us:

If you’d like to support our mission, please visit our ⁠Patreon page.⁠

In this episode, I have the honor of speaking with Andrew Jeffery, author of A Small Boy Smiling. Andrew courageously shares his journey through childhood sexual trauma and the powerful healing process that followed. His story is a testament to resilience, offering hope and insight to those facing similar challenges.

To learn more about Andrew’s journey, visit his website.

To purchase "A Small Boy Smiling", follow this link to Amazon.

About the Podcast:

What Happened to Me is produced by Hope for Men, a mental health platform dedicated to supporting male survivors of sexual violence. We connect survivors with therapists who truly understand their experiences. To find the right therapist for you, visit our Therapist Directory.

If you’d like to share your story on our podcast, reach out to us at [email protected]. We’re here to help you be heard.

Credits:

Original music for this podcast is by Ori Alboher. Discover more of his work on Spotify

Support Us:

If you’d like to support our mission, please visit our Patreon page.