“Since my wife passed away and since I’m on my own, I had quite a few dips. You get depressed. It’s like living in hell.”
–Bruce
Retired WWII veteran
Profiles
Character Profiles | Expert Profiles | Spokespersons
CHARACTER PROFILES
James, age 23, saw comrades blown apart by IEDs during his tour of combat duty in Iraq. James began to unravel and sought the support of his unit’s chaplain. He was told, “Buck up, because you’re not going anywhere.” When he was finally discharged and on his way home to Atlanta, he sought the help of an Army psychiatrist in Germany whose diagnosis was depression. Though these psychotherapy sessions helped, when he returned home, he suffered a relapse as he tried to rebuild his life as a civilian. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 18-30.
Pierre, age 27, is a talented, though struggling composer/musician with a wife and 2 year-old son. Though he and his wife Robin both work, making ends meet has been difficult and dispiriting for both of them. Pierre’s depression has made things all the harder for the whole family. Their financial straits make it impossible for them to afford treatment. He is currently searching for affordable treatment options. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 18-30.
Stephen, age 22, dropped out of high school when he was 17 and left home after becoming completely estranged from his adoptive parents. Throughout high school, he used drugs and drank to excess largely to mute emotional pain he now understands was caused by depression. After nearly being killed by gang bangers in Portland, Maine, he returned to finish school and resume therapy. He was a freshman at George Mason University when we filmed him. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 18-30.
Javier, age 30, left Puerto Rico to attend a cooking school in Florida. It wasn’t long before he found himself unable to get out of bed in the morning, missing all his classes and ultimately dropping out. He returned to his family in PR and sought medical treatment but was misdiagnosed and medicated for schizophrenia. The medications caused a zombie-like state that finally caused him to stop taking them. However, his untreated depression worsened until he received proper medication under the care of a psychiatrist at the University of Southern Florida. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 18-30.
Allen, age 36, is radio producer from Maryland. Though he is a smart, talented and good-looking man with a job that many people envy, he has always felt “less than.” Haunted by memories of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his stepfather, it’s hard for Allen to trust and make friends. Thoughts of suicide plague him and there are days where he doesn’t feel like getting out of bed. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 30-55.
David, age 45, is a psychologist and father of two teenage daughters. Immigrating to the United States from Korea at age 5, David was torn between two cultures. He became very angry and brooding, abusing alcohol and drugs to placate intense feelings of worthlessness. Thoughts of suicide plagued him and, had it not been for a friend’s timely phone call, he may have actually gone through with it. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 30-55.
William, age 46, is a Navy veteran and youth counselor from Washington, DC. His depression began after his wife, his childhood sweetheart, was killed. William began drinking heavily and became more and more withdrawn. He sank into a deep despair and eventually found himself with a pistol in his mouth. Appears in video for men ages 30-55.
Eric Hipple, age 50, was quarterback for the Detroit Lions from 1980 to 1989. Eric battled depression throughout and after his football career. After the loss of his teenage son to suicide, Eric has devoted much of his time to suicide prevention in association with the University of Michigan’s Depression Center. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 30-55.
Richard, age 37, moved away from his family in Puerto Rico in his mid-twenties. He soon descended into a dark mood that isolated him and made things difficult at work. Coming from a family and culture with low awareness of mental illness, he was unprepared to understand his mood swings. On the advice of friends, he sought help from a therapist. He has benefited greatly from both talk therapy and medications. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 30-55.
John Head, age 56, is a former Detroit Free Press reporter and Atlanta Constitution editor and author of Standing in the Shadows, an autobiographical account of his lifelong struggle with depression. John is also an active spokesman on depression, especially as it is experienced by African American men. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 55+.
Tom Johnson, age 66, is the former publisher of the Los Angeles Times and former CEO of CNN. Tom struggled with depression through his tenure at both organizations. He did his best to continue as a strong, dynamic leader on the surface but beneath, he was going through great agony. He is now a vocal advocate for de-stigmatizing depression and broader recognition that it is a treatable illness like any other physical ailment. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 55+.
Hugh, age 60, is pastor of a Church of Christ parish in suburban Baltimore. Twenty-five years after seeing combat in Vietnam, Hugh began experiencing flashbacks and was diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar illness. After being hospitalized for psychiatric observation and treatment, he returned to his parish to devote his ministry to building awareness of mental illness. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 55+.
Moises, age 68, battled alcoholism and depression most of his life. It wasn’t until after he emigrated to the US from Guatemala and spent twenty years achieving sobriety, that he sought help for the depression that had alienated him from his wife and daughters. Since beginning a regimen of treatment involving both psychotherapy and anti-depressant medication, he has been able to reunite with his daughters and his grandchildren. Appears in broadcast and video for men ages 55+.
Bruce, an 84 year-old, WW II Navy veteran, faced a readjustment when his wife of 50 years died suddenly. He began drinking heavily to help deal with his grief. As often occurs with alcohol abuse, grief became depression. He increasingly isolated himself from a close-knit family. Through a combination of a twelve-step program and psychotherapy, he was able to regain his equilibrium and resume his normal life. Appears in broadcast and video for men
EXPERT PROFILES
Dr. John Greden, MD, is University of Michigan Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Professor and Chair in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. In addition, he is Executive Director of the University of Michigan Depression Center and Research Professor for the Mental Health Research Institute at the University of Michigan Medical Center. In 1999, Dr. Greden proposed the establishment of the University of Michigan Depression Center. The Center aims to pioneer a new era in depression care, characterized by a focus on prevention, an emphasis on earlier detection and true remission, the abolishment of stigma, and an informed and empowered public.
Dr. Francisco Fernandez, MD of the University of South Florida Medical School Faculty of Psychiatry is the recipient of the 2007 Simon Bolivar Lecture Award from the American Psychiatric Association for excellence in contributions to mental health in the Hispanic American community. He is a member of the Board of Regents for the American College of Psychiatrists.
Dr. Michael Addis, PhD, is Chair of and Professor in the Psychology Department at Clark University. Dr. Addis is currently interested in theory and research related to men's mental health. His recent work is focused on links between masculine gender socialization and responses to problems in living, including help-seeking behavior, substance abuse, and variations in the ways mental health problems are perceived and characterized. In 2003, he received the David Shakow Early Career Award for contributions to the science and practice of clinical psychology from the American Psychological Association, and the Researcher of the Year award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity. Dr. Addis teaches courses in the psychology of learning, men and masculinity, psychological ethics, and assessment.
Campaign Spokespersons
All requests for interviews and speaking engagements should be directed to mengetdepression@stateart.com
Men with Depression
Eric Hipple, age 50, was quarterback for the Detroit Lions from 1980 to 1989. Eric battled depression throughout and after his football career. After the loss of his teenage son to suicide, Eric has devoted much of his time to suicide prevention in association with the University of Michigan’s Depression Center. Appears in the broadcast and video for men ages 30-55.
John Head, age 65, is a former Detroit Free Press reporter and Atlanta Constitution editor and author of Standing in the Shadows, an autobiographical account of his lifelong struggle with depression. John is also an active spokesman on depression, especially as it is experienced by African American men. Appears in the broadcast and video for men ages 55+.
Tom Johnson, age 66, is the former publisher of the Los Angeles Times and former CEO of CNN. Tom struggled with depression through his tenure at both organizations. He has also been a vocal advocate for de-stigmatizing depression and broader recognition that it is a treatable illness like any other physical ailment. Appears in the broadcast and video for men ages 55+.
Medical Experts
Dr. John Greden, MD, is University of Michigan Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Professor and Chair in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. In addition, he is Executive Director of the University of Michigan Depression Center and Research Professor for the Mental Health Research Institute at the University of Michigan Medical Center. In 1999, Dr. Greden proposed the establishment of the University of Michigan Depression Center. The Center aims to pioneer a new era in depression care, characterized by a focus on prevention, an emphasis on earlier detection and true remission, the abolishment of stigma, and an informed and empowered public.
Dr. Francisco Fernandez, MD of the University of South Florida Medical School Faculty of Psychiatry is the recipient of the 2007 Simon Bolivar Lecture Award from the American Psychiatric Association for excellence in contributions to mental health in the Hispanic American community. He is a member of the Board of Regents for the American College of Psychiatrists.
Producer/Director
Grady Watts
Grady Watts is Senior Vice President of State of the Art, Inc. For Men Get Depression, he is the Principal Investigator and produced and directed all media. He has extensive experience creating materials that address stigma, cultural barriers and that improve understanding of treatment. His history of media work on mental health subjects includes: mental health and aging in the television series “Well Into Your Future;” mental health and HIV/AIDS in the television special “Positively: The Changing Face of AIDS in America” with an outreach effort targeting adults, teens and caregivers of children; and for families caring for a loved one at home, he created the television special “Caregivers: The Heart of Homecare” hosted by Dana Reeves. He has also focused on chronic illnesses with the broadcast special “Prostate Cancer: Are You At Risk?” and the community outreach tool “Take Charge: For Men Newly Diagnosed,” both of which were hosted by Colin Powell and “Managing Heart Disease: For Men and Women.” Eight of his media projects have been quantitatively evaluated in national studies and shown to improve patient understanding of health, self-efficacy and health seeking behaviors. His work has been recognized with an Academy Award®, Cable Ace Award, Freddie Awards, National Emmy nomination, among others. He is a frequent speaker on health communication and health literacy.
