USC psychologist Dominic Merritt tackles Caribbean men's mental health, urging open dialogue and counselling for wellbeing.
June is recognized as Men’s Mental Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the unique mental and emotional challenges men face. Yet for many men, conversations about mental health remain hidden behind expectations of strength, independence, and silence. For Mr. Dominic Merritt, Dean of Timothy Greaves Hall and counselling psychologist, those challenges are not simply statistics. They are realities he encounters daily while working with young men at the University of the Southern Caribbean(USC).
One of the first situations Mr. Merritt encountered after becoming Dean in 2023 involved a student displaying signs of emotional distress. The experience heightened his awareness of the struggles many young men carry quietly and reinforced his commitment to supporting them. Working closely with male students between the ages of 16 and 25 has given him a unique perspective on the issues they face. Relationship difficulties, rejection, comparison, loneliness, and uncertainty about the future are common themes that emerge in conversations with students. While these challenges are often discussed individually, Mr. Merritt believes they are connected by a broader cultural expectation that men should suppress rather than express their emotions.
“We’ve taken the idea of handling emotions and replaced it with pretending emotions don’t exist,” he said.
According to Mr. Merritt, many young men are raised hearing phrases such as “be a man” and “suck it up.” Although often intended as encouragement, these messages can leave men feeling as though vulnerability is weakness and that asking for help is a personal failure. The influence of social media has added another layer to the conversation. Online personalities frequently promote narrow definitions of masculinity that emphasize emotional detachment, dominance, and self-reliance. Mr. Merritt believes these messages can shape how young men view themselves, their relationships, and their place in society.
Among the challenges he encounters most often is the difficulty many young men have in coping with rejection. Whether in friendships, relationships, or personal ambitions, rejection can have a profound impact on self-esteem and identity. Without healthy coping strategies, some young men internalize these experiences and begin to question their value and worth. Despite these struggles, many remain hesitant to seek professional support. Mr. Merritt attributes much of this reluctance to longstanding cultural beliefs that men should solve their problems on their own. As a result, counselling is often viewed as a last resort rather than a valuable resource for growth and healing.
His work as both a psychologist and Dean has taught him that distress is not always communicated through words. Changes in behaviour, withdrawal from social circles, declining motivation, or neglect of personal spaces can often signal that a student is struggling internally. For this reason, he believes support begins with intentional conversations. Rather than assuming someone is doing well, he encourages friends and family members to check in meaningfully and create spaces where men feel comfortable speaking honestly about their experiences.
“Instead of asking, ‘You good?’ ask, ‘How are you doing?’ That’s where real conversations begin.”
As discussions surrounding mental health continue to grow, Mr. Merritt hopes universities and educational institutions will play a larger role in understanding the experiences of Caribbean men. He believes more research, open dialogue, and practical support systems are needed to address the realities many young men face. His message for Men’s Mental Health Month is simple but powerful: no one is meant to struggle alone.
“A lot of us as guys are in pits that we can’t get ourselves out of, and sometimes we need a helping hand.”
In a world that often tells men to stay silent, Mr. Merritt’s work serves as a reminder that strength is not found in pretending everything is okay. Sometimes, strength is not endurance in silence, but the bravery of speaking what has long been left unspoken.
