Damien Uzelman had been a consistent presence at the Planet Fitness in Sherwood Park for more than a year when he suddenly stopped coming. Staff took notice. He returned after several weeks away, weighed down by mental health struggles.
"When I got back, the staff were just so excited to see me," Uzelman recalled. "Today I get this card, because I explained to them what was going on and they’ve all written these amazing, amazing things." The team had signed a card for him. "You’re just like, ‘there are nice people in the world, thank goodness,’" he said.
The experience pushed him to work out six days a week and to speak openly about men’s mental health during Men’s Health Month. "Men cry," he said, citing Statistics Canada data showing the suicide rate for men is nearly three times that of women, with men accounting for roughly 75 percent of suicide deaths.
General Manager Megan L’Heureux said the gym strives to be a supportive community. "The first step is getting through the doors. We’re here, we can be your support system." Uzelman added that leaning on faith and a welcoming place like the gym can be a unique lifeline in a world where many carry invisible burdens.