Written By: Darryl W. Thomas, Jr.
Shocking Realities
November is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, yet the crisis among men—especially those aged 16–24—remains largely unseen. Consider these statistics:In 2023, the suicide rate among males was nearly four times higher than that among females—about 22.8 deaths per 100,000 men compared to 5.9 for women.
- Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10–34 in the U.S.
- These are not just numbers—they reflect young men silently fighting battles with far too little support.
Everyday Wars: Military Deployment vs. Life at Home
As a U.S. Marine who served in Kuwait (2003) and Iraq (2004), I know what combat looks like. I faced enemies, exhaustion, fear, and the weight of being accountable for others’ lives.
But the wars don’t end when the uniform comes off. Young men today fight battles too—academic pressures, racial bias, job expectations, relationship demands, identity crises—equally real, equally destructive if unaddressed.
In both war zones, mental and emotional well-being must be prioritized. What you see, you can’t unsee. The trauma isn’t always visible—but it lingers.
Why Young Men Need Help Now
Young men (16–24) often carry silent burdens:
- The demand to “be strong” suppresses vulnerability.
- School, extracurriculars, work, family—all in a balancing act.
- Social media and cultural expectations add fuel to the fire of anxiety.If left unchecked, this stress becomes trauma, and trauma can lead to despair.
Three Practical, Proven Tips to Improve Mental Health
- 1. Encourage Open, Honest Conversation to Create environments where young men can speak without judgment. A simple question like “How are you really doing?” can break the silence. Chat with a peer, coach, or mentor. The most potent antidote to isolation is connection.
- 2. Build a Routine Anchored in Movement and PurposeExercise reduces anxiety and builds resilience. Commitment to physical movement—whether lifting, running, or team sports—signals you’re worth the effort. Add a simple daily goal or habit you stick to. The structure will give your mind something to hold onto.
- 3. Teach Self-Awareness and RegulationHelp young men recognize triggers: fatigue, stress, unmanaged expectations. When they identify what pushes them off balance, they regain control. Couple that with a mental reset: meditation, journaling, prayer. Awareness leads to action.
Why Our Mission Matters: Hope for the Underdogs
Many youth we serve are emotionally imprisoned, not just physically. They’ve experienced trauma—neglect, abuse, systemic obstacles. Too often they lack the tools to process it.Our initiative—Hope for the Underdogs—uses leadership development and literacy programs (including our books TODAY… I WIN and TODAY WE WIN Volumes 1 & 2) to equip these young men with confidence, voice, and a pathway out of silence.Your support helps break the cycle. You help transform young men from wounded warriors into healthy leaders.Call to ActionSupport our work by sponsoring a young man’s participation in Hope for the Underdogs. Visit: https://www.committed2win.com/hopefortheunderdogs
Mark your calendar for the 2025 KING ME Conference, December 12–13 in Waco, TX—dedicated to young men’s leadership and mental wellness. For more info: [email protected]
Share this article. Talk about it. Ask the young men in your life: “How are you doing?” Your concern could launch a conversation that saves a life.
About Darryl W. Thomas, Jr.Darryl W. Thomas, Jr. is a U.S. Marine veteran (Kuwait 2003, Iraq 2004), leadership expert, award-winning speaker, holds a master’s in Educational Leadership and five-time bestselling author. Married 24 years to his high-school sweetheart and father to five children—ranging from a Marine to a TCU graduate—Darryl leads Committed 2 Win. He has dedicated more than two decades to empowering young men, advocating for mental health, and restoring community legacies.
📧 Contact Us: [email protected] | (254) 405-7245🌐 http://www.committed2win.com📺 YouTube Live Tuesdays @ 8:15 PM CST – @1DarrylWThomasLet’s normalize the conversation. Let’s empower young men and men alike to not just survive, but to thrive. Freedom from the internal war starts with awareness—and it starts with you.
References1 Suicide – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide2 NCHS Data Brief No. 509 September 2024 – CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db509.pdf
Darryl W. Thomas, Jr. is a U.S. Marine, leadership development expert, award-winning speaker, five-time bestselling author, and at-risk interventionist with over two decades of experience. He is the CEO of Committed 2 Win, a personal and leadership development community focused on inspiring, challenging, and empowering young people and adults to overcome adversity and take ownership in becoming the best version of themselves.Beyond his professional achievements, Darryl is a devoted family man, married to his high school sweetheart for 24 years and father to five children: a U.S. Marine, a TCU graduate, a University High School graduate, and two University High scholar-athletes.Let’s continue this conversation and ensure that every student knows they are not alone on their journey.Follow Darryl at LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children in Waco is a vital non-profit organization that serves potentially anyone and everyone in our area. Their mission is to promote healing of children and crime victims through advocacy, collaboration, prevention, and treatment across six Central Texas Counties, serving over 7,000 victims.
Victims can suffer both vocally and in silence because of acts of violence committed against them. Anyone–men, women, and children–may be affected by violence, which is why the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, religion, disability, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, English proficiency, or age.
Unfortunately, children are one of the most vulnerable populations that are susceptible to neglect, which can appear as abuse in physical, emotional, or sexual forms. The Advocacy Center not only provides an immediate response to victims of violence with their Victims Center, but they also take care of our youth through work with the Children’s Advocacy Center.
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) provides a helping hand to hurting children by minimizing their amount of time involved in the investigative and judicial processes. The CAC takes a holistic, coordinated approach to suspected abuse, which includes steps like videotaped forensic interviews. This way, the child has the opportunity to share their story in a safe, confidential manner. They also offer forensic medical examinations that ensure the physical health of the child and weekly case reviews, in which partner agencies oversee each case.
The Advocacy Center greatly relies on the community, and a few of their partner agencies include law enforcement, child protective services, the district attorney, the medical community, social workers, and case managers. However, they utilize volunteers and donations in order to aid the Advocacy Center’s staff, allowing the day-to-day operations of the Center to run smoothly and efficiently. Without these volunteers and monetary donations, they would not be able to continue to serve and impact our community so effectively.
The Advocacy Center has two community events coming up, including the 2025 Waco Designer Purse Bingo Day and the 2026 Mardi Gras Ball. Visit their website or Instagram to find more information on these special occasions!
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.
Breaking the Emotional Chains that Bind Us
BY: Darryl W. Thomas, Jr.
When we celebrate Independence Day, we pledge pledging allegiance under a banner that declares our freedom. Yet, for countless Americans, freedom is merely surface-deep. Emotionally and psychologically, they remain imprisoned — not by walls or guards, but by trauma that echoes in their minds.
According to the National Center for PTSD, a staggering 70% of U.S. adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetimes, and up to 20% — over 44 million people — will develop PTSD symptoms. These aren’t just numbers — they reflect deeply lived struggles that shackle hearts long after the event.
The Hidden Chain of Trauma
Freedom is never free — not from the battlefield, prison bars, or personal loss. As a U.S. Marine who served in Kuwait (2003) and Iraq (2004), I experienced the chaos of combat firsthand. In war, you see the enemy. In life, trauma can be invisible, internal, and infinitely more destructive.
I, too, carry these scars — not just from war, but from my youth. A string of betrayal, neglect, and emotional distress left its mark. I learned that true freedom is not cheap, and it comes at a hefty price. This is especially true when it comes to trauma, anxiety, wounds, and guilt.
The 11-Figure Price Tag
Freedom demands one thing: F-O-R-G-I-V-E-N-E-S-S. This 11-figure price tag requires courage, vulnerability, and grace. Many people are not willing to pay such a price but it’s the essential currency that buys freedom.
When it comes to forgiveness, there are five strategies to consider:
1. Forgive Others- Holding onto anger or pain only strengthens the chains. Release those who hurt you.
2. Forgive Yourself- Guilt is a cruel jailer. Recognize that you did the best you could. Choose grace over shame.
3. Seek Support- Therapy, prayer, or mentorship isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s courage in motion. Freedom often needs someone beside you.
4. Narrative Liberation-Tell your story — whether to a trusted ally or through journaling. Reclaim the narrative from the eyes of trauma.
5. Serve Someone- Else Helping another person reveals your resilience and reclaims your power. Gratitude and purpose heal the heart.
Chains Upon Chains: Youth Behind Bars
The most heartbreaking prisons are emotional and invisible. In Texas, juvenile offenders are often chained emotionally by trauma. Between 75–93% of incarcerated youth have experienced at least one traumatic event, compared to just 34% of their peers. Many arrive emotionally wounded and leave further scarred.
That’s why Hope for the Underdogs isn’t just a summer initiative based on literacy — it’s a freedom movement. By equipping these young men and women with stories of triumph (TODAY… I WIN, TODAY WE WIN Volumes 1 & 2), we’re planting seeds of liberation. We’re offering them a path to forgive, heal, and break the chains that bound them.
You Can Join the Freedom MissionFreedom from trauma isn’t an abstract ideal — it starts in our communities. Here are four ways you can join the mission:
- Sponsor a Youth: Your support provides books and mentorship, forging pathways to healing.
- Share the Word: Spread our mission through your network. With awareness, we dismantle stigma.
- Partner with Hope: Host workshops, donate resources, or volunteer time.Invite Dialogue:
- Talk about trauma and forgiveness at church, school, or community events.
Final Call: Freedom Is Waiting
Freedom isn’t a moment — it’s a journey that reads: “To those who hurt me…but most, to the parts of myself I blamed.” By forgiving others and ourselves, we dismantle emotional prisons and allow our souls to breathe.To the parents, pastors, educators, and patriots reading this — I challenge you: will you pay the price of freedom? Let forgiveness — spiritual, emotional, personal — buy your liberation.Help our children feel freedom’s promise this summer through Hope for the Underdogs. Your sponsorship and voice can help set a generation free — literally, emotionally, spiritually.
This July, let’s not only celebrate freedom — let’s live it. Forgive, heal, and combat emotional imprisonment — for your family, your community, and the undamaged hearts waiting for us at Hope for the Underdogs.
Darryl W. Thomas, Jr. is a U.S. Marine veteran (Kuwait, 2003; Iraq, 2004), leadership expert, award-winning speaker, and five-time bestselling author. A devoted family man—married 24 years, father of five, and founder of Committed 2 Win—he’s spent over 20 years helping individuals heal, lead with integrity, and break cycles of trauma.Connect with Darryl📧[email protected]🌐 www.committed2win.com/hopefortheunderdogs 📺 YouTube Live Tuesdays @6 pm CST: @1DarrylWThomas
By Darryl W. Thomas, Jr.
A Battle Worn Long After the War
What if I told you that men are five times more likely than women to apply a permanent solution to a temporary problem? Would that shock you? Afterall, we as men like to get the job done, right? Well in this case it is sad but true… yet wrong.
More than 49,000 Americans died by suicide in 2022, and males accounted for nearly 80% of those deaths — nearly five times higher than women — highlighting a silent crisis among men, especially fathers and husbands.
For family men, this pressing reality is a reminder: the battles fought on the home front are as real and field-tested as those in overseas combat.
Comparing Wars: The Marine and the Dad
Having served our country from 2000 to 2005; I was one of many called into wartime situations. As a U.S. Marine, I spent time in Kuwait in 2003 and Iraq in 2004. One prominent lesson that I learned is that battle fatigue isn’t left on the battlefield. PTSD, a brutal companion in wartime, finds its way home. Making the internal battles more complex and difficult to conquer.
A year after leaving the Corps, my wife began to show signs of a debilitating, incurable, and hereditary disorder as she was pregnant with our third child. To say that it was challenging is a gross understatement. So, my load was comprised of dealing with PTSD coupled with trying to stay present for a sick spouse, maintaining emotional availability for three children – ultimately five, operating a business, working a 9-5 job and serving the community.
I discovered that I was not the only man dealing with such heaviness. I also learned that, in combat, the enemy is visible. At home, the enemy often hides in exhaustion, emotional silence, guilt, and the heavy expectation to carry all burdens alone.
As a family, your peace is vital. In light of June being the month that we celebrate fathers and Men’s Mental Health Awareness month, I implore all fathers to consider the following.
Three Ways Fathers Can Protect Their Peace
- Battle Begins with Boundaries- Protect your non-negotiable time for family dinners, prayer, and exercise like you would mission-critical operations. Leave work at work. Be where your feet are. Oftentimes, your presence is more important than your provision. It’s here that mental and spiritual strength are safeguarded.
- Deploy Your Support Network- In the Corps, every Marine has a battle buddy. At home, you can create a similar system — regular check-ins with another father, a mentor, or a counselor help fight isolation and toxic stoicism. Don’t be that lone wolf because a lone wolf will starve.
- Own Your Emotional Scars- PTSD and anxiety don’t look a certain way. I don’t care how well you try to dress it up, it will reveal itself. When untreated it can cause collateral damage. Success at work cannot mask the emotional scars. Your community involvement cannot conceal unhealed wounds.
Courageously admitting that there are issues begins the path to healing. Again, don’t face them alone. Taking that first step is an act of courage that models strength for your family.
Three Additional Strategies to Secure the Home Front
- Routine Physical Readiness:Complete at least three workouts per week — whether it’s a brisk walk around the neighborhood, a ruck march, a lifting session in the garage or weight-training at the gym. Implement a routine of bodily exercise to regulate stress, release endorphins, and maintain clarity.
- Spiritual Resupply:Engage in weekly (if possible, daily) spiritual practices — Bible study, meditation, or prayer walks — to replenish the inner well from which you lead. This strategy is a gamechanger.
- Intentional Debriefing:Schedule a monthly “T-time discussion” with your spouse. The more frequent the discussion, the better. What is T-time? It is short for truth time. This is a moment to discuss wins, struggles, and emotional needs honestly without judgement. It invites connection and clarifies purpose.
Closing Words to the Warriors at HomeMen, the uniform may come off, but your battles don’t. Strength is not measured by how much you can carry — it’s proven by how bravely you choose healing. Your legacy isn’t built in silence but in the courage to open up, rest, and invite support.
Mission Orders Start Today: Choose one tip and commit. Join the Brotherhood: Be in the house—virtually—this Tuesday at 6 pm CST on YouTube Live (@1DarrylWThomas) for my REAL Talk Tuesday session. Let’s stand together and talk real. https://www.youtube.com/@1darrylwthomas/streams Engage Back: Comment on what tactic you’re using to guard your mental health or share a story that inspires.And please think about supporting our Hope for the Underdogs summer initiative. A father’s healing helps a generation bloom. Your participation can make a difference.
http://www.committed2win.com/hopefortheunderdogs
Darryl W. Thomas, Jr. is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, leadership development expert, award-winning speaker, five-time bestselling author, and at-risk interventionist with over two decades of experience. He is the CEO of Committed 2 Win, a personal and leadership development community focused on inspiring, challenging, and empowering young people and adults to overcome adversity and take ownership in becoming the best version of themselves. Beyond his professional achievements, Darryl is a devoted family man, married to his high school sweetheart for 24 years and father to five children: a U.S. Marine, a TCU graduate, a University High School graduate, and two University High scholar-athletes.
By Joshua Wucher
Kincannon, Gutierrez, and Cornblum will participate in the program’s inaugural cohort, along with 13 districts from across the state, to strengthen principal pipeline.
Waco ISD is partnering with The Holdsworth Center, an Austin-based nonprofit, to strengthen its bench of future principals through a new, 18-month program called the Holdsworth Leadership Collaborative.
Waco ISD is among the first 14 districts across the state invited to take part in the program, which the center’s materials describe as an effort to “build internal leadership capacity, with the end goal of having a strong bench of leaders ready to step into school leader positions when they arise.
“We are excited and feel blessed to be one of the few districts across the state working on school leadership development with the Holdsworth Center,” Dr. Susan Kincannon, superintendent, said. “This new program will be a pivotal part in how we build supportive systems and structures that can sustain a school leadership pipeline. Ultimately, this will help our district retain great teams to serve our kids.”
Over the 18-month program, Kincannon, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Josie Gutierrez and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Deena Cornblum will attend learning sessions at The Holdsworth Center’s Campus on Lake Austin. They will learn best practices from organizations inside and outside of education that have built high-performing talent management systems and then work to define what great leadership looks like in Waco ISD.
“Because principals influence the working conditions and skill level of every teacher in the building, they have a huge – and often unseen – impact on students in the classroom,” Dr. Lindsay Whorton, president of The Holdsworth Center, said. “Waco ISD recognizes this and is committed to ensuring its students benefit from outstanding leadership.”
Founded by H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt in 2017, the center’s mission is to improve the quality of public education by supporting and developing educational leaders. The 14 districts participating in the Holdsworth Leadership Collaborative are Corpus Christi ISD and Mission and Los Fresnos CISDs in South Texas; Conroe, Tomball, Pasadena and La Porte ISDs in Southeast Texas; Eanes, Temple, Waco and College Station ISDs and San Marcos CISD in Central Texas; and Irving and Plano ISDs in North Texas.
Joshua Wucher is Waco ISD’s executive director for communications.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email Ferrell Foster at [email protected].
By Kasey Ashenfelter
The application for the 11th round of the LeadershipPLENTY Institute in Waco is now open. Individuals can apply to be part of a select group to receive leadership training and development in this six-month, cohort-based program.
LeadershipPLENTY is designed to make civic leadership training available to those who are involved in the community and interested in growing as leaders, and to strengthen the skills of those who hold leadership positions. LeadershipPLENTY Institute is underwritten by Waco Foundation and offered at no cost. The deadline to apply is Aug. 13.
“Without leadership representation from all of our community, we’re building a ship that won’t float. Our ideas and plans won’t be fully informed and we won’t reach our full potential,” said Jeremy Everett, executive director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty. “We need leadership voices and decisions to come from across our community, and the LeadershipPLENTY Institute helps us do that.”
To attend LeadershipPLENTY Institute, individuals must first complete an application. Anyone over age 18 can apply. Once applications are reviewed, selected individuals will be notified, and the courses start in September. Participants go through a 10-module curriculum including topics such as managing conflict, leading meetings, building strategic partnerships, communicating for change, and more. Graduates of the program gain valuable skills, deepen their network of friends and partners, and are positioned to lead the Waco area into the future.
“The Community Visioning Project identified so many great hopes and dreams that this communityhad for itself,” said Kris Kaiser Olson, community leader and member of the Today’s Action Tomorrow’s Leaders steering committee. “One of those hopes was for a much larger and much more diverse pool of people who could serve in a variety of leadership positions in the Waco area — everything from elected offices, to appointed commissions, to nonprofit boards of directors, to heading up neighborhood groups, and so on.
“Waco Foundation volunteered to take responsibility for coordinating this leadership development work and support the LeadershipPLENTY Institute, Olson said. “The graduates are among some of the finest leaders in Waco.”
LeadershipPLENTY Institute offers accessible leadership training and skills to develop and broaden our community’s network of leaders. “As a LeadershipPLENTY graduate, I know firsthand how the skills and relationship I gained from the program can have a direct impact on a person’s leadership skills and roles,” said City Council Member Hector Sabido. “Now, in my role on City Council, I know we need to support and foster leadership voices from all parts of the Waco community — LeadershipPLENTY is the guide to help us do that.”
To apply or to nominate someone today visit TodaysActionTomorrowsLeaders.org.
Kasey Ashenfelter is part of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty and coordinator of The LeadershipPLENTY Institute – Waco.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email Ferrell Foster at [email protected].