Part 4/9:

Colbath questioned the potential familial patterns of depression, and Kyle noted that while depression was not openly acknowledged in his household, he suspected that older generations had struggled without understanding their mental health issues. This generational stigma of "sucking it up" only added to Kyle’s feelings of shame and confusion.

The Intersection of Sexuality and Mental Health

As Kyle began to grapple with his identity as a gay man, his mental health struggles were compounded. He faced an emotional toll from living a lie—portraying himself as someone he was not in an attempt to conform to societal expectations. He shared how early attempts to confide in his parents were met with dismissal, leaving him to feel even more isolated.