200 Pittsfield Students Walk for Men's Mental Health
Reader's note: This article discusses suicide and mental illness.
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Around 200 Taconic and Pittsfield high school students marched downtown to support men's health on Friday.
The third annual "Move for Movember" walk-a-thon raised money for mental health, as more than three of four suicides that occur in the United States are by men and boys. It also supported the Aaron T. Coty Memorial Scholarship, which honors a beloved student who died in 2015 after silently struggling with mental illness.
Each walker paid a $5 registration fee and was asked to raise an additional $20.
"I can still remember exactly where I was when I heard the news that Aaron died by suicide on Sept. 17, 2015. I could not believe it. It did not make sense. I didn't want to believe it but it was real, and it was something that we had to get through together," said Matt Capeless, Movember community ambassador and physical education and wellness teacher at Taconic High School.
"My friends and I struggled thinking about what we missed or what we could have done differently. We cried together and shared memories of the good times we had together. One thing was certain, we cannot go back in time."
Coty's family has attended suicide prevention walks for nine years and walked for Movember for the last three years.
"I wish Aaron had gotten help because we had no idea that he was struggling," his mother, Judy Coty, said.
"He was always smiling and happy and had tons of friends and was very outgoing and personable."
His father, Peter Coty, said they were able to award two $750 scholarships last year. They hope to reach Wahconah Regional High School and Lenox Memorial High School with scholarships next year in honor of their son and grow the fund.
Capeless took the reins on bringing Movember, a national movement, to the city, he said.
"It shows you the kind of friends that he picked," Coty said. "Ten years later and we still talk to a lot of his friends."
Capeless heard about Movember on social media in 2020. Movember's challenge is to run or walk 60 miles for the 60 men who die by suicide each hour across the globe — also to grow out facial hair to change the face of men's health.
He knew this was something that could be done in honor of Coty.
"Sixty miles sounds like a lot but two miles a day is not that bad. After the first couple years, my campaign really started to gain some steam and we started the walkathon to raise money for Movember and the Aaron T. Coty Memorial Scholarship. Last year was the first year that we were able to offer the scholarship to a student at Taconic as well as a student at PHS," Capeless said.
"Movember is the leading charity for men's health. The three main target areas are prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention. Together we can help to break the stigma around mental health, especially for men. More than 3 out of every 4 suicides are men in the U.S. Look out for yourself, look out for your friends, have meaningful conversations with your friends. You never know what someone is going through and someone will never know what you're going through unless you have a conversation."
He remembered Coty as funny, kind, outgoing, and a great friend to everyone. Coty was also a talented athlete, excelling in cross country, swimming, and track and field, and was also heavily involved in theater at PHS.
"He exuded a level of confidence that none of our friends could replicate. We graduated from Pittsfield High School in 2014," Capeless said.
"What we did not know as his friends was the pain that he was masking behind that smile that could light up a room."
PHS art teacher Lisa Ostellino walks in honor of Coty, whose radiant smile, she said, now shines between the brightest stars in the sky, and for her son, dear friends and family, neighbors, and co-workers who inspire her every step.
"Let's shine a light on men's mental health, emphasizing proactive solutions and community support," she said.
"Having witnessed my own son's determination to overcome depression and anxiety since the fifth grade and seeing others so close to me find strength in silence fuels my passion to bring awareness and inspire positive change through conversation and action today."
Fellow PHS art teacher Colleen Quinn recalled running into Coty just days before his death. He was "dressed to the nines" while working at the former Wheatleigh Hotel in Lenox.
"If you're hurting, reach out to somebody. You're not alone here in the world. We love you and one thing I love is that we're here with Taconic," Quinn said.
"I believe we are brothers and sisters."
Cam Harrington, a 2024 graduate and recipient of the Aaron T. Coty Memorial Scholarship, said that while mental health has gained widespread recognition globally, men's mental health remains a topic often brushed under the rug.
"There are very specific, unique challenges that men face, primarily due to society's expectations, stigmas, and pressures they experience to mold to the ideals of masculinity," Harrington said.
"How often have you heard someone tell a friend or a teammate to 'man up' or 'boys don't cry?' These phrases alone are enough to cause someone to be discouraged to tell someone that they're suffering or need help. Because of this, men typically are less likely to seek help for anxiety, depression, and a host of other mental health crises, resulting in increased rates of serious health concerns, addiction, and suicide."
Harrington said 77 percent of men have experienced symptoms of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or stress, and of them, only 31 percent have received a medical diagnosis for it and more than six million men in the United States have experienced depression each year.
In 2021, 70 percent of people who died by suicide in the country were men, as the rate of suicide is four times as high for men as it is for women.
"Being able to address men's mental health openly is essentially not only to provide effective support and treatment but to also create a society and community that values the mental well-being for everyone," Harrington said.
Cam LaFerriere, also a 2024 graduate, explained his own journey with accessing mental health care while at the U.S. Naval Academy. About three nights in, he started having thoughts of self-harm and made the difficult decision of admitting he needed help.
"I talk to you today because I stood up, got out of my rack at four o'clock in the morning, and went to my commanding officer and said, 'I need help,'" he explained.
"And that's what every single one of you should be able to do. Find someone, anybody who you can talk to."
He urged attendees to recognize that they are walking for.
"This could happen to every single one of you. You could struggle with mental health. You could have these thoughts," LaFerriere said.
"But the problem is not speaking out about them. If you have them, talk to someone, please. It's the best decision I've ever made."
Also during the event, Taconic's Movember Club co-President Elijah Harewood shared an essay that he wrote about the movement and Chris Escalon, a member of the club shared reflections on the importance of men's health.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. To contact the Crisis Text Line, text HELLO to 741741. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988.
Tags: awareness event, mental health, movember, suicide,
