Motivational Speaker Teaches Boys To Discuss Mental Health Post-Pandemic

Mental health challenges among girls and young women have been widely studied and discussed, but since the pandemic, experts say they've seen a growing focus on the emotional well-being of boys. One motivational speaker is traveling the world to teach young men how to discuss their feelings.

It's one final lesson before these New Jersey middle school boys go on to the new stresses of high school.

"If we have 60-80,000 thoughts per day, we got to control some of them. We got that?" said Javar Godfrey, a motivational speaker with a background in social work who travels the world helping young men talk about their mental health.

"Give me an example of when you're upset...how do you calm down?" Godfrey asked.

"I take deep breaths and just chill out," one student responded.

"One thing I do to calm down is get on the game and go to sleep," said Jalen Holmes, a student.

Jalen Holmes, like a lot of guys his age, says he understands talking about feelings is important, but "for me...I just don't feel comfortable and I just want to deal with my own problems."

"Why this specific focus on young men...young boys...and their mental health?" asked Hill.

"Mainly because I want the conversation to become normal," Godfrey responded. "They often don't get these times to just sit and discuss their emotions and how they feel without being judged."

"We need to be talking more about how to help boys communicate," said Dr. Shannon Bennett from the Center for Youth Mental Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Bennett says it's critical to recognize the signs of struggle can be different for boys. "Depression can also show up more as irritable or angry behavior or outbursts, whereas girls may show up as more sullen or sad."

Back in the auditorium, the group is opening up.

"I'm so proud of you and the way you took this assembly because I take this so serious, peoples' lives are on the line," said Godfrey.

Dr. Godfrey hopes they'll leave here with tools they can use for a lifetime.