MANUAL

This week on The Zac Clark Show, I sit down with Matthew Stefanko, the founder of MANUAL. Matthew shares his personal journey, from being bullied as a child to struggling with mental health issues and alcohol dependency. He reflects on the unique challenges young men face in seeking help and why partnering with Release Recovery was a pivotal moment for MANUAL. Together, we are poised to drive meaningful change in men’s mental health. MANUAL was created to meet young men where they are, providing the tools and resources they need to take control of their well-being. With the support of Release Recovery, this mission is now set to reach even more young men across the country, combining digital and in-person support on college campuses and high schools nationwide. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about mental health, personal growth, and the future of men’s well-being. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eDVgbEM4 https://lnkd.in/eNuBrgrK https://lnkd.in/ez4wbMee

We are proud to announce our first partnership in the sports industry with the Lexington Legends and Temerity Capital Partners. The MANUAL team recognizes the needs of young men - and for our unique offerings - are needed outside of universities as much as they are needed within them, and this partnership establishes our first opportunity to measure and evaluate our work in this setting. Gregg Zaun, Alicia Amling, Jake Sandler, and Julie Sandler are thinking about supporting their players in a way that is empathetic and caring for their mental well-being - but that will also improve their performance on the field. We are especially excited to share this news during #MensHealthMonth. Go Legends!?

This #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, we’re celebrating startups revolutionizing mental wellness. Here are some companies leading the charge.?? Sukhi Wellness: Personalized digital solutions for workplace well-being, addressing stress and burnout. ?? Marigold Health: Tech-enabled support for mental health and substance use through anonymous chat groups. ?? Arise: Virtual support for eating disorders, offering mental support, nutrition guidance, and group sessions. MANUAL: Digital platform inspiring young men to prioritize mental wellness with on-demand content and live coaching. ??

Since joining the IFC, one of our council's primary initiatives has been mental health. That's why I'm excited to share that the UMN Interfraternity Council has partnered with MANUAL, a mental health program present at 40+ universities targeting Greek life students. After much collaboration with Matthew Stefanko (CEO) and my counterparts on the council (Maxwell Tuzinski-Dashe, Luke Wittner, Peter Groshens, Silas Simpson, Cody Fanum), we are happy to announce that the program will be accessible to 1,700+ students starting today! For more information on MANUAL: https://lnkd.in/gQPupiYt

Very excited to partner with Manual and provide more mental health care services for our students! I’m proud to have worked on a project that will help thousands of people for years to come. This was a long process and I want to thank Matt for his continued dedication to helping our students.

We at The Inner Foundation are excited to announce a new investment in our thematic investment area of Uplifting Emerging Adult Men, with our support of MANUAL ?? MANUAL offers an innovative men’s resource and engagement platform, thoughtfully designed to support and meet the unique needs of emerging adult men within higher education in the US.? In today’s landscape, young men are facing daunting challenges in navigating the transition to adulthood: record-low university enrolment rates, alarming suicide and mortality statistics, and a persistent stigma surrounding mental health. Despite this negative trend, the utilisation of mental health and other support services within this demographic remains alarmingly low. MANUAL boldly steps in to fill this gap and differentiates itself from other well-being solutions targeting universities through its evidence-based approach: offering 1-1 coaching services for men facilitated by other men and an expert content bank curated in interplay with its users. Since its launch in 2022, MANUAL has partnered with over 40 academic institutions and 50,000 young men, successfully engaging them, destigmatizing seeking help, and bolstering the utilisation of services. ?? We commend the business acumen and mission-driven mindset of founder Matthew Stefanko and the MANUAL team and are proud to support a solution that specifically addresses the mental health of emerging adult men in the US. Nevertheless, the pervasive stigma surrounding men’s mental health and the hesitance to seek support presents global challenges. The glaring lack of funding allocated to this demographic underscores the urgent need for us as investors to come together and prioritise this underserved group. If you’re interested in investing in this demographic or a changemaker who’s innovating a solution targeting emerging adult men’s mental wellbeing, don’t hesitate to reach out! #MentalHealthMatters #MensMentalHealth #HigherEducation #InvestmentAnnouncement #HybridFinancing

I am so excited for this. Steve has been leading these conversations for a long time and I feel lucky to be able to do it with him, especially in partnership with the NASPA Wellness and Health Promotion KC. A special thanks to Marlaina for thinking of this topic. MANUAL is working with almost 50,000 young men across the country, so we're hoping to bring a bit of what we've learned over the last few years to the conversation. I hope you can join us! #mensdevelopment #menswellbeing #mensmentalhealth #menshealth

Having MANUAL work with the guys in the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Men of Color Academy has been an incredible experience - and we're just getting started! Dr Brandon Martin and JaVon M. Hill, M.A. are building a transformational program solving what I believe to be one of the greatest challenges in higher education today, the graduation rates of Black and Hispanic men. We love that we get to be one small part of that story. #mensdevelopment #mensoutcomes #menssuccess #mensmentalhealth #menofcoloracademy #moca

We value the partnership we have with University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Byron Hughes, PhD (+ Hailey Flavin, M.S. and Benjamin Libon and Luke Bibee). It's important to have empathy for men that are struggling in college while also seeing how healthier and more supported men create a better campus environment for everyone. We're excited to continue this work in 2024. Full steam ahead! #RockyTop MANUAL American Institute for Boys and Men Richard V Reeves #menssupport #mensoutcomes #menshealth #mensdevelopment #mensmentalhealthmatters

Inside Higher Ed?highlights suggestions from The Jed Foundation (JED) for addressing youth suicide trends, including meeting students where they already engage. MANUAL takes this to heart, breaking down barriers and destigmatizing seeking help. By reaching out to young men on their terms, MANUAL guides them toward utilizing vital services, fostering a culture where well-being is a shared priority. Visit our website to learn more about how MANUAL partners with institutions to empower young men to thrive.?#MANUAL?#StudentAffairs?#StudentWellness #HigherEducation https://www.manual.care/ https://lnkd.in/eK2MubfY