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THE ORIGINS
I’m just a guy who needed the reminder too.
CHECK IN BRO didn’t start as a company; it started as a moment. A moment when I realized how much I needed someone to CHECK IN on me, and how much of a difference it made when they did. I’ve dealt with my own mental health struggles, personally, with family, and at work. I’ve had days where everything felt heavy and nights where I didn’t want to talk to anyone. But every once in a while, a friend would text, call, or just say, “Hey bro, you good?” And that made all the difference.
Before this movement, I was like a lot of guys. I knew about men’s mental health, but I didn’t talk about it. I didn’t post, like, or tag any of the amazing organizations doing the work. Not because I didn’t care, but because it never felt natural or easy. If I wasn’t personally in a crisis, or someone close to me wasn’t, why would I dive deeper into it? That mindset is exactly what I wanted to change.
This movement isn’t just for guys like me who are in it; it’s for everyone. Because even if you’re not struggling, your bro might be. And maybe you’re the one person who could change their entire day with a quick CHECK IN.
I created CHECK IN BRO to be that easy, accessible reminder. No pressure. No preaching. Just something real that anyone can do and be a part of. It’s not therapy. It’s not a hotline. It’s a conversation starter. It’s a tool. It’s a bridge. Because the truth is, mental health is not going away just because it is not addressed or talked about...It is always there. And that is okay! Support, connection, and a reminder that someone cares, can make a difference.
The moment I shared this idea with a friend and saw how impactful it could be, I knew I was all in.
My hope is that CHECK IN BRO becomes the thing that prompts that one text you wouldn’t have sent otherwise. The coffee you didn’t realize you or a buddy needed. The talk that shifts everything. And if that’s all it ever becomes? That’s still enough.
Let’s normalize the CHECK IN.
Let’s keep each other here.
-CURTIS BENTZEL | FOUNDER