One-man play leaves audience choking back tears

In Canada, only one in five people struggling with mental health receive the help they require. Of these five people, it is statistically less likely that a man will report abuse or seek help during a period of distress.
On November 18th, Jack.org at York, a suicide prevention and mental health awareness organization that aims to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental health, invited performer Elliot Maxwell and director Ray Jacildo to perform their multi-perspective show about male sexual abuse. The play, Water Choke, was followed by a discussion among Maxwell, Jacildo, and the audience.
As mental health week took over York on November 16, it seemed like a logical time for second-year sociology student Maya Ameyaw to organize the interactive event for her club.
“Stigma is one of the main things we try to tackle. We hope that people leave questioning the traditional views surrounding male identity, and the very real struggle of men who have endured abuse,” says Jacildo.
Oscillating between four different stories of men struggling with sexual abuse, the performance allowed viewers to identify with a multitude of personalities and struggles. The one-man show emphasizes the stigmas surrounding male abuse that prevent the victims from seeking help, particularly the stigma that men are sexual beings and should enjoy sexual interactions, consensual or not.
In conjunction with stigmas surrounding abuse, the show features themes of suicide, trauma, struggling with identifying as a traditional male, and feeling alone as an abuse victim. With some viewers crying and others holding someone next to them, it was clear that Water Choke was not only an artistic piece, but an influential work of growth and finding help.
“When you see someone who has successfully battled their problems, you realize that things can be different and that there most certainly is hope in overcoming your obstacles,” says first-year undeclared science student Nancy Truong shortly following the performance.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, York provides resources, including Personal Counselling Services. Mental health is not separate from health, and as a community, we can remove the stigmas and ensure people get the help they need.
 
Elite Hasson
Contributor