Din Thomas fought for 15 years, three of them in the UFC, holds wins over Jens Pulver, Matt Serra, and Clay Guida, coached at ATT for 19 years, and now runs a coaching business in Port St. Lucie, Florida, working with a select few fighters including Gillian Robertson and Jose Shorty Torres.
And on New Year’s Day, he will be bicycling across Florida to raise awareness for men’s mental health.
“Because I’ve been through it, I can give them that support,” said Thomas, to Derek Lowe for WPT.com. “I wanted to dedicate this towards mental health because I am in an industry where a lot of guys suffer from mental health and depression.”
Din didn’t have anyone to provide mental support when was a professional fighter, and he wants to change that for the fighters he trained.
“As men, in the sport that I’m in, they’re very alpha,” said Thomas. “They’re afraid to step up and speak about it. So, I just wanted to go and say alright, we’re going to speak about this. We’re going to talk about this so that you guys can get help.”
Din starts the ride at around 6:00 a.m. Friday, and will be accompanied by his life coach. He partnered with the HeadsUpGuys organization, and reached his goal of raising $1,000.
“On New Year’s day I’ll begin my bike ride across the state of Florida to bring awareness to men’s mental health issues,” he tweeted. “I’ve partnered with HeadsUpGuys, an organization that offers support for men in need. GoFundMe will go to this wonderful organization.”
https://twitter.com/DinThomas/status/1341007073543380992
“It’s not a sign of weakness,” explains headsUpGuys. “it’s a fact. Guys get depressed. Depression affects millions of men every year, and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. It’s an illness that can rob you of your will to live. It can also steal:
•The pleasure from things that used to give you joy
•Your physical energy and strength
•Your connections to friends and family
•Your ability to handle stress
There are many misconceptions about depression that make it difficult for men to talk to others and take charge of their health.
Myth
Depression is a sign of personal weakness
Reality
Depression is a real illness
Myth
‘Real men’ are in control of their emotions and don’t let things get to them
Reality
‘Real strength’ is facing whatever challenges arise
Myth
Feeling sad or down is not manly
Reality
Sadness is an emotion all humans feel, including men
Myth
Anyone with enough willpower ought to be able to ‘snap out of it’
Reality
Depression isn’t overcome by willpower alone, you have to learn and acquire new skills and tools to beat it
Myth
Men should not ask for help; they should be able to cope on their own
Reality
Consulting others for direction and guidance really means taking control and it’s the smartest thing you can do
Because of these myths, men will often talk about feeling angry or irritable rather than sad or down. These myths can also feel like handcuffs for men, preventing them from reaching out to others for even a little support. This contributes to many men not seeking support until their depression is very severe, if at all. This can place men at an increased risk of taking their own lives – the greatest risk factor for suicide is untreated depression.
