Let’s Talk about the Stigma around Men’s Mental Health

ental health is something that affects everyone, but it's not spoken about enough. This stigma needs to change, and men in particular need to start talking about their mental health. It could save lives.

Men are often socialized to believe that they should be strong and independent, and seeking help for mental health issues may be seen as a sign of weakness or vulnerability. This stigma can prevent men from seeking the support and treatment they need, and can contribute to a culture of silence and isolation around men's mental health.

Men need to be encouraged to talk about their mental health too.

A study conducted by the University of Southern Maine found that men are less likely than women to seek help for mental health issues and more likely than women to die by suicide. Men also did not seek mental health help at higher rates than women despite having more serious symptoms.

This is why it's so important for men to speak up about their struggles so that others can better understand them and know when action needs to be taken.

Men are less likely to seek help for mental health issues than women.

There are many reasons why men may not be as willing to seek help for their problems, whether it be depression or anxiety, or something else entirely.

In some cases, these reasons will be cultural. There are different expectations around masculinity. This could mean that seeking counseling is perceived as a weakness, rather than an opportunity to feel better about themselves. Men may also think that admitting they need mental health support makes them appear weak—but no one should have to pretend like they're fine when they aren't.

Only half of the men who are depressed or have a substance abuse disorder will seek help.

As the National Institute of Mental Health reports, only half of the men who are depressed or have a substance abuse disorder will seek help from a doctor, psychologist, or counselor. This is compared to three-quarters of women in similar situations who do actually seek out medical attention.

Men also tend to turn towards alcohol or drugs in times of stress and depression instead of turning towards seeking counseling as an outlet for their problems — this behavior can lead them down dangerous paths where they may become dependent on substances or end up abusing those substances themselves in order to deal with their feelings (which can cause even more problems).

Someone kills themselves every 40 seconds; most of them are men.

Suicide is a problem of epidemic proportions. Every year, 788 million lives are lost due to suicide. That's 1,140 people every day.

And it's mostly men.

We're here to tell you: it's time to stop the silence around mental health issues and break down the stigma around mental health.

We need to make it okay for men to talk about their feelings and seek help for their mental health issues.

But, how do we do this?

• By making sure that men are aware of the resources available to them.
• By talking openly about mental health issues and making them part of the conversation at home, at work, and in your social circles.
• By encouraging your male friends, family members, and colleagues to talk about their feelings and share what they're going through when they need support.
• It is important to challenge harmful stereotypes and attitudes about men's mental health, and to work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive culture for men's mental health.

By taking these steps, we can help reduce the stigma surrounding men's mental health and create a more supportive and accepting environment for men seeking help.

Learn More:

• ‍Living Longer: 8 Healthy Habits For Men Over 50
• Mental Health Books You Should Be Reading