Men’s Mental Health
Supporting men's mental health is crucial, as it affects all aspects of their lives, including their relationships, professional life, and self-perception.
Why Is Men’s Mental Health Important?
Men’s mental health is often overlooked because society’s pressure for men to act a certain way can create a lot of stress and pressure, which can significantly impact their mental health. Men are four times more likely to die by suicide than women, highlighting the importance of breaking the silence about men’s mental health. Men also have a higher risk for schizophrenia and illicit drug and alcohol use compared to women but are less likely to talk about their mental health or seek professional treatment.
One reason for this is that, historically, many of the expectations around masculinity, such as being the provider, remaining stoic, and avoiding displays of vulnerability, were shaped and reinforced by men themselves. These ideals were often rooted in a desire to lead, protect, and demonstrate strength. However, over time, these same expectations have unintentionally created emotional barriers. Many men now feel trapped, believing they cannot express their emotions or discuss their mental health without appearing weak. The pressure to remain emotionally stable and self-sufficient can lead them to conceal their internal struggles and avoid seeking professional help, all in an effort to live up to a role that no longer serves their well-being.
To help combat the mental health stigma that men face, June has been recognized as Men’s Mental Health Month, with the goals of raising awareness, encouraging self-care, and promoting the importance of seeking treatment for mental health issues. Men’s mental health is paramount, as it affects all aspects of their lives, including their relationships, work life, and self-perception.
Unique Challenges Men Face
Men face many unique challenges that prevent them from discussing their emotional and mental health and, therefore, prevent them from seeking professional help.
Toxic Masculinity
By clinical definition, toxic masculinity is how men are culturally trained and socially pressured to behave. It is characterized by toughness, power, and anti-femininity and can vary in expression among individual males. Toxic masculinity creates a sense of “manliness” and is often expressed by stoicism, dominance, and competitiveness. Societal pressure tells men that they must financially support their household, and their career and financial status usually measure their power.
When men cannot live up to societal standards or experience a hardship in their lives, such as unemployment or the death of a loved one, they have been taught to ignore the pain, not show emotion, and move on. This can be highly harmful and even dangerous because they are suppressing these emotions, which can worsen symptoms of mental health disorders and precipitate isolation.
Though men benefit from patriarchy, they are also impinged upon by patriarchy.
Stigma and Shame
Men outwardly expressing their emotions is unfortunately perceived by society as weak, and men are often ashamed to seek help for their mental health because they may feel embarrassed, “unmanly,” or have a fear of being judged by others. They may worry about what will happen if their friends or family find out. The fear of being judged and ridiculed by others commonly prevents men from seeking help, even if it means enduring their struggles alone.
Lack of Focus on Self-care
Self-care is not talked about among men because of the underlying toxic masculinity that labels self-care as a form of weakness. The masculine resistance towards self-care extends to professional mental health treatment. If men are less likely to acknowledge they are struggling mentally because of the fear of showing weakness, they are even less likely to seek treatment for their mental health.
Work-Related Stress and Burnout
Men’s identities are often tied to their jobs and careers, and as a result, they usually measure their self-worth by their career and financial success. Because of this, they often endure a lot of workplace stress, abuse, and toxicity and become burned out over time. This can have a devastating effect on their mental health, and they often suffer workplace stress and burnout without seeking professional guidance, which can further take a toll on their mental health.
Lack of Appropriate Diagnostic Instruments and Clinician Biases
Men have poorer mental health literacy compared to women, meaning that men often are not aware of symptoms associated with mental health disorders, and they are worse at identifying if something is wrong.
Additionally, men often express symptoms differently than those listed in the DSM-5. For example, men are more likely to mask and suppress emotional and physical pain by using alcohol, drugs, aggression, and anger. They are less likely to show vulnerability and talk about their symptoms during an interview with their mental health provider, leaving men less likely to receive a diagnosis and a proper treatment plan.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Disorders in Men?
It is essential to be aware of warning signs and symptoms associated with mental health in men as they may not portray the textbook symptoms many people are aware of or looking for.
- Aggressive behavior
- Anger
- Irritability
- Using alcohol or drugs
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Isolation
- Escapist behavior, such as spending a lot of time at work or on sports
- Physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive problems, and pain
- Sleep disorders
- Sad mood
- Engaging in risky behavior such as gambling or driving fast
- Suicidal ideation
If you or a loved one are having thoughts of suicide, it is imperative that you seek help immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 800-273-8255.
Men’s Mental Health Statistics
Men are more likely to die by suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, and be diagnosed with schizophrenia at much higher rates than women. Although women have higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to men, men also suffer greatly from these disorders.
- Globally, males are 1.8 times more likely to die by suicide compared to women.
- In the U.S., men die by suicide at a rate four times higher than women.
- The rate of suicide is highest in middle-aged white men, with white males accounting for almost 69% of suicide deaths.
- Six million men are affected by depression in the United States every single year.
- Men are also two to three times more likely to misuse drugs than women.
- Women in the United States are 1.6 times more likely to receive any form of mental health treatment compared to men across 12 months.
- In 2023, 17% of American men received counseling or therapy in the past year, compared to 28.5% of women.
- A national survey found 72% of men would rather do household chores than go to the doctor.
Of those who receive a schizophrenia diagnosis by the age of 30 years, 90% are men.
Many experts speculate that because men are less likely to acknowledge their symptoms and seek treatment and have much higher rates of suicide compared to women, men may be greatly more affected by depression than the statistics show.
Treatment for Men’s Mental Health Disorders
Treatment for men’s mental health disorders is aimed at providing psychotherapy and medications when needed. Depending on the specific mental health condition and severity, medications may not be necessary, as psychotherapy is usually the first line of treatment for most mental health disorders.
The clinician plays a tremendous role in treating mental health in men, as men are often reluctant to admit vulnerability. It can be helpful to meet with a few providers to ask them questions and determine if their therapeutic techniques and style align with your needs. It’s also important to find a clinician who understands men’s mental health struggles, as that will help male clients feel comfortable and be more likely to open up about their past and current symptoms. They must be able to recognize warning signs and suppressed feelings when their male clients are not forthcoming due to shame. It is also essential for clinicians to be aware of the bias associated with treating males and the societal norms we hold, which can impact the diagnosis and treatment of men.
How Men Can Improve Their Mental Health
Improving mental wellness in men starts with self-care. Men can practice daily self-care by:
- Exercising
- Eating nutritious foods
- Getting enough quality sleep
- Taking vacation time away from work
- Adopting relaxation strategies such as going to yoga, breathing exercises, and meditation
- Spending time learning about mental health
- Spending time with family and friends
- Talking about their emotions and feelings with loved ones
- Engaging in hobbies that bring them joy and fulfillment
How Men Can Support Other Men
To break the stigma and the current perception of masculinity, men need to talk about their feelings and emotions with each other. Men are emotional, men are nurturing, and men can be victims of abuse; these are just some truths about men that go against the unhealthy masculinity societal view. Discussing these truths is the first step toward accepting them and creating a new social norm that redefines masculinity.
Men can start by talking with each other about these issues, joining online communities that focus on mental health, talking to friends and family in their lives about mental health, and reading books and blogs that focus on men’s mental health. The more these issues are openly talked about and the more vulnerable men become, the more societal barriers will be broken down, creating more acceptance of mental health treatment for men.
Resources for men with mental health concerns:
- HeadsUpGuys is an organization that supports men fighting depression and suicidality by providing tips, tools, information on professional services, and success stories, as well as referrals to therapists.
- The Movember Foundation is a charity that focuses on issues that affect men’s physical and mental health.
- The ManKind Project is a global network of nonprofit and charitable organizations that oversee programs for men at every stage of life.
- Man Therapy provides tools and resources to help men tackle stress and other common mental health issues, including a 20-point Head Inspection for self-evaluation
- Visible Man is a free men’s peer support community with a mission to connect men in need and create a visible network of advocates.
- Black Men Heal Kings Corner is a virtual weekly meetup group that discusses various topics related to men’s mental health issues and struggles. This group is open to men all over the country and internationally.
Find Mental Health Support Today
If you identify as a man and are struggling with your mental health, help is available. You can reach out to your primary care physician or a mental health professional who can conduct an initial assessment and discuss your concerns. You can also search online to find male-centered mental health support groups that meet locally in person or virtually. Remember, you are deserving of help, and taking care of your mental well-being is a foundational step to leading a healthy, happy life. Get started today.
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