Why Is Men’s Mental Health Important And What Can We Do To Help?
Mental health, especially in recent years, has become a primary topic of conversation and rightfully so. Mental health is crucial for our general wellbeing which includes social, emotional and psychological. Mental health affects how we act, how we think and how we feel.
With the increasing popularity of mental health discussions, an increase in men’s mental health awareness followed. According to a survey set out by the NHS in 2021, men are less likely to seek help regarding their mental health and are also less likely to access psychological therapies. Research shows that suicides are 3 times more common among men than women (House of Commons Library, 2022). Given these statistics, why is it that men’s mental health is oftentimes overlooked? Society’s idea of traditional gender roles and expectations of how men should act and be plays a role in why men struggle and shy away from seeking help. ‘Be strong.’ ‘Don’t cry.’ These are phrases that boys and men often hear as they’re growing up and shockingly still hear when they’re grown up. These toxic stereotypes surrounding men’s mental health and how they are expected to deal with their problems are a root cause for why men hesitate to ask for help. Breaking this stigma is imperative in the fight with men’s mental health and encouraging men to reach out and seek help.
According to the ‘Get It Off Your Chest’ report, 10% of men have said that they are scared to be told they have a mental health problem. This ties in with the idea of toxic masculinity and having to be strong and how society’s traditional ideas of how men and females should be and act has led to men being scared of being diagnosed with a mental health problem and would much rather stay quiet. Education surrounding mental health and what resources are available are imperative to help make men more comfortable with the topic and to create an environment in which they can come together.
Why is breaking the stigma important and how can we, as a society, work to reduce it?
Men are more likely to develop dangerous dependencies as coping mechanisms such as alcohol and drug abuse and inherently means that they are less likely to reach out to family and friends when they are struggling. Reducing the stigma around men’s mental health and breaking society’s toxic expectations of how men should act and be, will help to create a more accepting environment in which men feel comfortable to speak about how they are feeling and their struggles. Openly talking about mental health, encouraging men to speak out, educating ourselves and others and actively listening are all ways in which we, as a society, can work towards reducing men’s mental health stigma.
What can you do if you’re worried about someone’s mental wellbeing or even your own?
Mental health problems present themselves differently in men and in women. What signs can you look out for that could indicate that a man in your life is struggling? Symptoms linked to depression in men that you can look out for include saying they feel sad or empty, extreme tiredness, oversleeping or sleep problems, drinking more alcohol or taking drugs, risk-taking behaviours such as reckless driving, bursts of anger and more. Symptoms linked to anxiety in men include seeming nervous or tense, trouble concentrating, digestive issues, rapid breathing and trembling and more.
If these are symptoms you feel like you have or have seen from a man in your life, these are ways to help or get help:
Start a conversation – whether this is starting a conversation with family or friends, opening the conversation about your mental health can help with getting help quicker.
Explain what resources are available – educating someone you’re worried about or yourself about what resources are available is beneficial when making decisions about who to reach out to but also what is available and choosing an organisation suitable for you.
Encourage healthy lifestyle changes – if a loved one is taking part an unhealthy lifestyle such as abusing alcohol and drugs, speaking to them and encouraging them to change this can help.
Don't be afraid to encourage men to talk to their GP or to speak with a counsellor.
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