WWU to Host Screening of ‘The Mask You Live In’ and Visit of Former Detroit Lions Quarterback and Mental-Health Advocate Eric Hipple May 11 and 12

Western Washington University’s Men’s Resiliency and Building Resilience and Voicing Empathy for All Students (BRAVE) is hosting two events to raise awareness about men’s health and mental wellness.

The screening of the film “The Mask You Live In,” which documents the struggle of boys and young men to stay true to themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity, will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11 in Arntzen Hall Room 100. “The Mask You Live In” explores how gender stereotypes are interconnected with race, class, and circumstance and illustrates how our society can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men. After the film, former Detroit Lions quarterback and author of “Real Men Do Cry,” Eric Hipple, will host a panel discussion on topics and concepts brought forth in the documentary.

Hipple will then present “Life on the Offense, A Game Plan for Life” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 12 in Arntzen Hall Room 100. Hipple has been an advocate and educator on issues of depression since the 2000 suicide of his 15-year-old son. Hipple will offer insight to men’s health, mental wellness, and suicide prevention by drawing on his experiences with depression, grief, and his son’s death. Hipple aims to inspire his audience to reach out for help before they get to a crisis point.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Hipple first came to Western in 2014 as part of BRAVE’s “Movember” movement.

Western Washington University’s Men’s Resiliency is partnering with several campus organizations to host these events, including Building Resilience and Voicing Empathy for All Students (BRAVE), To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), and Western’s Counseling Center.

For more information on these events or disability accommodations, contact Western’s Men’s Resiliency Specialist Ian.Vincent at Ian.Vincent@wwu.edu.