Every community has them. They are the men who show up.

They coach the little league team after work. They help a neighbor with a home repair. They volunteer at their church. They work long hours to provide for their families. They care for aging parents. They support their children through challenges. They lead businesses, organizations and communities.

They are fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, veterans, first responders, teachers, miners, construction workers, healthcare professionals and caregivers. They are often the people others turn to when something goes wrong, but how often do we stop to ask how they are doing?

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to recognize an important truth: the men who spend so much of their lives supporting others need support, encouragement and understanding too.

Mental health is part of our overall health. It influences how we handle stress, build relationships, make decisions, care for our families and navigate life’s challenges. However, for many men, conversations about mental health can still feel difficult.

For generations, many men have been taught that strength means carrying the weight alone. That showing emotion is weakness. That asking for help is something you do only when you have exhausted every other option, but true strength is not pretending everything is fine when it isn’t. True strength is recognizing when you need support and allowing yourself the same compassion you so freely offer others.

In West Virginia, that message is particularly important.

We are a state built on resilience, hard work and perseverance. We take pride in showing up for our families and communities. Those values are part of what makes West Virginia special, but sometimes the expectation to always be strong can make it harder to acknowledge when we are struggling.

The reality is that mental health challenges affect people in every community, every profession and every stage of life. West Virginia continues to face significant barriers to mental health care, with more than 700,000 residents living in areas experiencing shortages of mental health professionals. For many individuals and families, especially in rural communities, accessing care can be difficult. That is why awareness, education and creating safe spaces for honest conversations matter.

At the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in West Virginia, we believe mental health should be treated with the same importance as physical health. We encourage people to seek support early, learn about available resources and talk openly about their mental well-being without fear of judgment.

Earlier this year during Teen Mental Health Awareness Week, NAMI in West Virginia encouraged communities to remember one simple framework: P.A.U.S.E.

Pause. Ask. Understand. Support. Encourage.

While that message was originally developed to support young people, it applies just as powerfully to the men in our lives.

Pause long enough to notice when someone may not seem like themselves. Ask how they are doing and genuinely listen to the answer. Understand that even the strongest among us face challenges. Support them without judgment. Encourage them to prioritize their mental health and seek help when needed.

These actions may seem simple, but they can make a meaningful difference. Often, people do not need someone to solve their problems. They simply need someone willing to listen.

This Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, I encourage all West Virginians to check in on the men who always show up.

Check in on the father who carries the weight of providing for his family. Check in on the husband balancing work, family and caregiving responsibilities. Check in on the veteran, the first responder, the teacher, the coach and the business owner. Check in on the friend who is always willing to help but rarely asks for help himself. Let them know they do not have to carry everything alone.

Even the strongest among us need support, encouragement and deserve a space to talk, be heard and know they are not alone.

Sometimes the most important thing we can do is simply ask, “How are you doing?” and be willing to listen to the answer. That conversation may be the reminder someone needs that support is available, help is within reach and their mental health matters.

For the men who always show up, let’s show up for them, too.

Julie Gomez is the executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in West Virginia. NAMI is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the United States.