Last weekend we celebrated Father's Day and June is men's mental health awareness month.

It's a combination that is of particular importance to Tony Kirkman who is the Executive Director of the Piatt County Mental Health Center. He stresses a father's importance in the family unit and a community in no way diminishes that of a mother's.

Kirkman points out the presence of young person's father significantly reduces his or her's chances at misfortune befalling them.

According to Kirkman, young children want to see what a healthy man looks like. That means a father that treats his wife with respect and loves her. He says a father should be a good example for his son and for his daughter.

Kirkman recently wrote a piece in a Piatt County publication regarding men's mental health month and why men receiving help and being honest about their situation is imporant. 

You can learn more about the Piatt County Mental Health Center at piattmhc.org.