In June, the U.S. commemorates Men’s Health Month, a time to consider the unique needs of males. In recent years, this has thankfully included a focus on mental health, a long-overlooked facet of well-being, especially for boys and men.
Unfortunately, this sudden interest is due in part to the fact that America’s men face real challenges. Despite earnest attempts to erase harmful stigmas, the loneliness epidemic persists, and college-aged men especially must contend with its effects. In fact, 80 percent of suicide deaths in the U.S. occur among men, an alarming disproportionality that signals just how dire things have become.
We know one of the keys to combatting such despair is a strong support system. For young men, this is often found in male peers and mentors who can share advice and experiences along the way. Interconnectedness, like that we enjoy as members of men’s fraternity, is a powerful antidote to isolation.
So, too, is orienting one’s life in service to others. In fact, research shows time and time again that real social and health benefits can be conferred from living charitably.
Volunteering creates bonds and nurtures fellowship. It offers a reason for people to engage with each other as they work collaboratively to achieve a common goal. In the case of young men, that simple connection can help break through the walls of loneliness that too many quietly endure.
Philanthropy also gives them a sense of direction, identity and pride. By building self-esteem through charitable acts, these men are deriving value in how their presence makes a positive difference in the world around them. Now, more than ever, that is absolutely essential, as men report worsening states of mental health, which scientists say is significantly correlated with physical well-being.
In The Paradox of Generosity, Notre Dame social scientists Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson conclude that “the more generous Americans are, the more happiness, health and purpose they enjoy.” A 2018 study from UC Berkley found generosity of time and treasure resulted in stronger health and even delayed mortality, while Columbia University notes it “boosts mood, self-esteem and our immune system” and “reduces stress, anxiety and blood pressure.” Tiffany R. Boyles, founder of Red Philanthropy Consulting, puts it simply: “We become better humans.”
My organization, Sigma Chi International Fraternity, is one of the largest men’s fraternities in North America with more than 275,000 living members, including 17,000 college men on 236 campuses. Twelve years ago, we began an exclusive partnership with Huntsman Cancer Foundation to support the innovative efforts of Huntsman Cancer Institute to fight cancer. Inspired by our brother, and founder of Huntsman Cancer Institute, the late Jon M. Huntsman, our members established a catalyzing rallying cry and an ambitious expectation that they know will span decades: to be the “Generation to End Cancer.”
Since then, Sigma Chis have donated more than $30 million to the cause through grassroots fundraising. Ours aren’t massive corporate gifts. These contributions, some as small as $5, are the product of college students and alumni hosting events, like our signature “Derby Days,” or calling on friends and family to give what they can. This hard work made Sigma Chi one of Huntsman Cancer Foundation’s largest philanthropic partners.
At our biennial convention this month, Sigma Chi International Fraternity announced we would more than double our contribution over the next five to seven years, representing the single largest-ever donation in the history of men’s fraternity. This $31 million gift will establish the Sigma Chi Center for Advanced Therapeutics and Innovation at Huntsman Cancer Institute, which will accelerate the most ambitious science that will make the most difference in the lives of individuals with cancer.
For these young men, raising money - in some cases, more than $200,000 by a single chapter consisting of just 100 men requires a significant amount of planning, physical and mental labor, creativity and cooperation. Their efforts teach them important tangible life skills that allow them to remain community-oriented philanthropists long after they graduate college. Everyone, including our larger society, benefits.
The timing here is critical, not only for the deserving patients who will benefit from HCI’s groundbreaking research and human-centered treatment programs, but also for our members who, amid so many obstacles facing young men today, develop the talents, confidence and bonds that will enrich their lives for years to come. We know that in giving, we are receiving a great deal, too.
As we close Men’s Health Month, policymakers, especially those working in and on higher education, should examine how encouraging men to look outward and give back to their communities can empirically improve their well-being. While we should applaud the creation of new interventions to prevent and address mental health crises, we must not overlook organizations created expressly to create real societal benefit and personal growth: because society needs strong and healthy men.
Fraternities like Sigma Chi are already doing this with great success. After all, we know that charity isn’t only about raising funds; it’s about men raising up one another, too.
Michael Church is the executive director of Sigma Chi International Fraternity.
