A $20,000 investment from the Clayco Foundation will allow Affinia Healthcare to continue and expand a program designed to encourage men to talk openly about their mental health.
The grant, awarded through the Clayco Foundation Relief Fund, will support “A Conversation,” a monthly discussion group that Affinia launched in 2023 after identifying men’s mental health as a significant community need.
Unlike traditional counseling sessions, the program brings men together in an informal setting where they can discuss life challenges with the guidance of a licensed counselor or therapist. Organizers say the goal is to create an environment that feels approachable for men who may be reluctant to seek mental health care.
The funding represents a corporate investment in a community-based program aimed at reducing barriers to behavioral health services. Mental health professionals have long cited stigma, limited access to care and reluctance to seek treatment as reasons many men delay getting help for depression, anxiety, grief and other behavioral health concerns.
Affinia officials said attendance has grown steadily since the program began.
“Our group has grown significantly over the last three years, and this grant helps us sustain our meetings and reach more men in the community,” said LaDon Meriweather, Affinia Healthcare’s outreach director, who launched the initiative. “As a Black man, I know we go through a lot, and we don’t always have a space to just communicate.”
Affinia developed the program after conducting a community health needs assessment that highlighted concerns about men’s behavioral health, particularly among Black men. While the discussions initially focused on Black men, the meetings have since expanded to welcome all men.
“The statistics tell the story of how men’s health, specifically Black men’s health, has been neglected by the health care system, and this is especially the case when it comes to mental health,” said Dr. Kendra Holmes, Affinia Healthcare’s president and CEO.
Holmes said many men avoid seeking care because of the stigma surrounding mental health treatment.
“We know that men are hesitant to see a doctor, and the stigma attached to mental health really dissuades men from seeing a professional,” she said. “We want this to be a soft introduction to what mental health care can look like, providing a safe space for men to start having the conversations that help address their mental health.”
Clayco, a St. Louis-based design-build, real estate and construction company, supports nonprofit organizations through the Clayco Foundation. The grant will help Affinia continue hosting the monthly discussions while expanding outreach to additional participants.
Although the program centers on conversation rather than formal therapy, Affinia leaders say the discussions often serve as a first step for men who may later choose to seek counseling or other behavioral health services.
The next phase of the initiative will focus on sustaining the monthly meetings and increasing awareness of the resource throughout the community.