In 1992, spurred on by the success of his book Missing father, missing son, the late Guy Corneau launched a support network encouraging men to express their emotions more and not hesitate to seek help. Thirty years later, Hommes Québec strikes a blow to reaffirm the mission of its founder. Meeting with Vincent-Guillaume Otis, Patrice Coquereau and Martin Léon, the three sponsors of the awareness campaign which begins on Monday.
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The three artists are among the personalities who wanted to testify to the importance of the legacy left by Guy Corneau — the sportsmen Bruny Surin and Dominick Gauthier as well as the singer-songwriter Étienne Drapeau have for their part produced capsules video to help raise awareness of Hommes Québec. “The formula is good because in a discussion group, you don’t have a specialist, you don’t have a psychologist, you don’t go to therapy, says Vincent-Guillaume Otis. It is not a place of intervention, it is a place of secure discussion where everyone is equal. There is no judgment, it allows a form of abandonment. »
“We live in a world where there are so many labels and qualifiers. You have to be efficient, be good, it’s like Post-its, ”continues Patrice Coquereau, pretending to stick labels on his forehead.
There are a million balls you try to juggle, but at some point it all falls. There is pain, anger, we feel helpless. But that’s where you get real. You deconstruct yourself, but it’s to find yourself better.
Patrice Coquereau
“Me, I come from a series of men who have not learned to express how they feel, even that my father’s father was punished if he cried, illustrates Martin Léon. And I saw the consequences of what it was like to have difficulty expressing what you want. Hommes Québec therefore offers an outstretched hand, a place where you can talk about how you feel in a confidential, safe way. »
Sensitize the youngest
Even if things change, it would be wrong to believe that young men are better equipped than their elders when it comes to talking about their emotions. According to the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, while the suicide rate among men aged 20 to 34 fell considerably until 2013, it has since stabilized at levels that remain three times higher than among men. women of the same age.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Martin Léon, Vincent-Guillaume Otis and Patrice Coquereau
Vincent Perreault has been a member of Hommes Québec since 2003 and vice-chairman of the organization’s board of directors since last year. He is pursuing master’s studies in the development of people and organizations, where he rubs shoulders with young people in their twenties: “I opened up to my experience with a young 20-year-old colleague. He revealed to me that he could not talk about his problems with anyone, says the 53-year-old man. He was a prisoner of his silence, I was the only one he talked to about it. »
This is why Hommes Québec is trying to educate more and more young people, because most of its clientele is over 50 years old.
Empathetic listening
Listening is the keystone of encounters at Hommes Québec. We can participate without saying a word, we can even simply witness a welcome meeting by videoconference. Also, Hommes Québec is not the political representative of the male condition. We therefore stay very far from anything that can be identified with toxic masculinity. “There is no question of saying to ourselves: ‘We are going to meet among ourselves because we have little place in the world,’ affirms Vincent Guillaume-Otis. That’s why at each meeting, there is a theme, we will think about something specific. We don’t come here just to have fun with each other. »
This type of manifestation is proof that behind it, there is suffering and a need to express one’s vulnerability and to be listened to with empathy.
Martin Leon
“There is also this pack effect, this kind of global entity in which men can take refuge, identify themselves”, suggests Patrice Coquereau. An impact that persists even among the youngest, despite all the progress made in recent years.
“It takes generations to reframe, it doesn’t happen in a few years,” says Vincent-Guillaume Otis. I have children, including two boys who are almost teenagers. I have one who is into sports, where being tough is valued. So I put this idea of talking a lot forward, because it seems that guys are born with this gene! My role as spokesperson, I therefore also do for my children. That’s why I think we need to ensure the sustainability of Hommes Québec. »
The Hommes Québec awareness campaign runs from October 17 to November 4.
Guy Corneau Tribute Award
Hommes Québec’s awareness campaign will culminate on November 19 with the presentation of the third Hommage Guy Corneau prize, awarded to a person or organization that has contributed to improving the health and well-being of men in Québec. Last year, Janette Bertrand and the Quebec Suicide Prevention Center received this award.