As you may know, the month of November is Men’s Health Month. It is a month more commonly referred to as “No Shave November,” where men don longer beards, grow mustaches, and overall stop tending to their facial hair – all in the symbolic name of health. As an advocate for mental health being taken just as seriously as physical health, I wanted to take this time to discuss an issue I feel strongly about: men’s mental health!
Startling Statistics:
- Six million men live with and are affected by depression in the U.S. each year, with young boys of color showing even greater depression than girls of all ethnicities.
- Men die by suicide at a rate 4x higher than women; Native American men have the highest suicide rates of all.
- 1 in 5 men will develop alcohol dependency during their lives.
- Men account for 10% of patients with anorexia or bulimia and an estimated 35% of those with binge-eating disorder and are less likely than women to seek professional help.
- 90% of people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia by age 30 are men.
- Men and women develop bipolar disorder equally.
Chatmon, B. (2020). Males and mental health stigma. American Journal of Men’s Health
Why Is This?
Stigma is an extreme barrier across mental health that often prevent individuals from seeking treatment. People of color and the LGBTQ+ community already face disproportionate instances of marginalization, leading to higher instances of cultural stigma and higher likelihood to develop mental health disorders. Men often feel as though they have no one to turn to in a society that has taught them that the only acceptable emotion is anger and to therefore mask any others that may demonstrate vulnerability. Men are less likely than women to seek help for depression, substance use, and stressful life
events, as that is often judged as being weak or broken. As a society, we often normalize anger, irritability, aggressiveness, substance misuse, and compulsive behaviors in men. However, these are the warning signs of serious mental health conditions.
How We Work Together
- Understand the risk factors. Unemployment, recent loss of a loved one, military-related trauma, genetic predisposition, mood disorders, substance use, and marginalization rank among the top risk factors for serious mental health issues amongst men. Although once seen as a symptom, thanks to COVID-19 (how often do we say that?!), social isolation is being considered as another serious risk factor in terms of mental health. Human beings are wired for connection and attachment on a cellular level, and isolation is known to increase the potential triggers of mental illness, while also making it increasingly more difficult to access services.
- Change the narrative. Men are taught to downplay their symptoms and that there is strength in silence. I am here to tell you, however, that when it comes to mental health, it is precisely the opposite. We need to change the narrative of what it means to be a man. There needs to be a transformation in the culture in which men are more comfortable expressing themselves. We need to insist in every corner of society that showing vulnerability is a sign of strength, not weakness. We need to prioritize mental health just as much as we prioritize being strong physically. You wouldn’t hesitate to see a doctor if you were injured playing a sport, so why should we hesitate to see a specialist if we are struggling mentally or emotionally?
- Increase accessibility & visibility. Increasing awareness around mental health, putting it on par with physical health, and providing education at a young age will help to disrupt how men traditionally view these matters. Understanding that the signs and symptoms of depression or other mental illness may look different across the gender and cultural spectrum is essential. Developing and promoting community-based approaches and providing support in informal settings work to gain the trust and seek collaboration from those who may be hesitant to access support, especially amongst marginalized groups.
- Allow space for feeling & healing. At the end of the day, my biggest belief is that people change people. Stigma begins to fade when men and boys see mental health and self-care modeled by their fathers, brothers, friends, and role models. Consciously identifying our own feelings, as well as others and accepting them as valid, yet passing visitors, is just one step forward in survival. Connection not only matters, but processing, talking, and connecting have been shown to have a positive physiological impact on the brain. We must encourage men to speak up, not “man up;” talking literally saves lives.
As a woman, I understand I may not be the expected or even an accepted voice on this topic, however I firmly believe this not only often goes overlooked but has a significant impact on everyone. Mental health is health care and suffering in silence is not a safe or healthy option for anyone, including and especially the men in our lives. The overall message may be simple, but the journey of change is long and difficult, and we need to work together. As the seasons change and holidays approach and the pandemic carries on, I encourage you to check in with your loved ones, listen to them, and offer support and resources when possible.
If you or someone you love is thinking about hurting or killing themselves, get help now. Call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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