Bright Path Behavioral Health and Fusion Academy will host a Men’s Mental Health Awareness Panel on June 12, bringing together behavioral health professionals, educators, and community leaders to discuss barriers men face in accessing mental health support. The free event will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Hill Learning Center in Durham and is open to the public.
The discussion arrives amid ongoing national concern over mental health outcomes among men. Men account for nearly 80% of suicide deaths in the United States and remain less likely than women to seek mental health treatment, according to public health data. Healthcare providers and community organizations have increasingly emphasized earlier intervention, stigma reduction, and community-based engagement as strategies to improve support.
The panel will feature Jordan Hall of Bright Path, Jimmy Evans of Barbershop Therapy, Daniel Montenegro of Family Psychiatry Practice and Associates, Chris Weintrob of Center for Psychology and Education, and Al Bennett of Fusion Academy. The discussion is intended to create an open forum examining how cultural expectations, isolation, and stigma can influence help-seeking behaviors.
“We talk about mental health more than ever, but men — especially men of color — are still too often left out of that conversation,” said Jeremiah Horne, Director of Admissions at Fusion Academy and panel moderator. “This panel is about creating the kind of space where that changes. Not just for the people in the room, but for the culture around them.”
Organizers said the event reflects growing recognition that conversations around mental wellness may be more effective when held in familiar community environments rather than exclusively in clinical settings. Initiatives such as Barbershop Therapy represent models designed to integrate mental health dialogue into spaces where trust and connection already exist.
The event also highlights broader trends within behavioral healthcare, including increasing collaboration among schools, families, healthcare providers, and community organizations. As demand for youth and adolescent mental health services continues to rise, providers have placed greater emphasis on preventative support and long-term emotional wellbeing.
Bright Path Behavioral Health provides evidence-based partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs for adolescents ages 12–18. The organization partners with families, schools, and community providers to support treatment continuity and emotional development for teens facing mental health challenges.
The Men’s Mental Health Awareness Panel will be held Thursday, June 12, 2026, at Hill Learning Center, 3200 Pickett Road, Durham, North Carolina. Attendance is free, and registration is available through Fusion Academy’s event page.
About Bright Path Behavioral Health
Bright Path Behavioral Health provides adolescent behavioral healthcare services through evidence-based treatment programs for teens ages 12–18. The organization offers partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs while working alongside families, educators, and community partners to support long-term mental wellness. Bright Path operates locations in Wake Forest and Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Contact
Abigail Krieck
Director of Strategic Impact and Outreach, Bright Path Behavioral Health
(919) 871-2001
Abigail.Krieck@brightpathbh.com
Bright Path Behavioral Health
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Published by: Randy Rohde