Rob Lawrence
Updated: Aug 12, 2023
Many men mask their vulnerable feelings and mental health struggles because they are taught from the get go that it's a "Mans Role" to be the protector & provider and to play that role there is no room for "weakness".
A lot of men believe that because of this if they do show any kind of emotional weakness they will be seen as somehow "less than" which in some communities they are. I Know this to be stupid, I hope you do...... Let's talk about it.
Mental Health is complex a lot of the times and not talked about enough and underrepresented all of the time and although in recent years it has been spoken about more openly than ever it still has a long way to go before the stigma ends, especially against men and their mental health and in particular straight men and their mental health..... Why though? What do the research say?
Men are less likely to be diagnosed with mental illness than women. Mental illness affects one in five women, but only one in eight men. In particular, depression is almost twice as common in women compared to men. Women are also more often diagnosed with anxiety, another common mental illness. Men may not report as much about their health issues just because they treat mental illnesses far less often than women but that isn't the only reason.
Men speak less about mental health than women. Men have fewer cases of mental illness, but they also talk less about their mental health. According to the results of Drug Survey based in Ontario, Canada, in 2018, it isn't only the increasing mental illness of girls. But girls also report psychological problems twice as often as boys. Why though?
Men's Health published an article on their site, explaining why men don't talk about mental health and according to various studies, emotions have something to do with it. According to the men interviewed by Men's Journal (who have all been struggling with depression for some time), they didn't want to admit it because they considered it a weakness.
Men often hide acute emotional problems because they don't see them as masculine. As a result, however, men might resist from receiving the help they need long enough to make mental health worse. They might turn to drugs or alcohol, or commit suicide. They may also become violent due to accumulated emotional stress.
It isn't possible to stop depression with will power alone. It's a severe mental illness that affects men's daily lives, including how they eat, sleep, feel, and think. It can also affect our ability to work, take courses, and maintain relationships with our friends and family. Depression is not a sign of weakness and can affect any man, regardless of age, race, or ethnic group.
It's necessary to talk about men's Mental Health and their symptoms to get an accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Most people need professional help to improve, and without help, depression can have serious consequences. For example, taking drugs or alcohol, or worse, committing suicide!
Many people, especially certain celebrities, have always been very open with their mental health news but the truth is that only the people who are closest to you need to know. Your partner, best friend, parents, or licensed therapists are the people you need to talk to. Mental Health can be a private problem if you want, but it can't be so secret that you keep it to yourself. If you allow it to manifest, you won't be cured; it will only become more challenging to treat in the long run.
You can take several steps to get the help you need when your mental health is struggling. First, tell a friend, partner, or confidant. The most important thing is to let someone know your mental health issue. They can help you by encouraging you to speak to a professional. It will only help you in the future; also work with mental health organisations to determine which licensed professionals in your area can provide information and support at affordable costs or even free if you live in a place that has free health care.
Finally, you should take steps with professionals to improve your life. Depression and other mental ailments don't always have to be treated with medication.
Working with a professional and being open may be enough to learn mental health coping skills and live a quality life.
It's an interesting topic isn't it?!
It still baffles me that in 2021 we as men are still taught to "Man Up" if things get tough. "Manning Up" is one of the problems why their is such a big problem with men and their mental health. If we are told constantly to shut up and put up without being able to acknowledge what's going on inside what do you expect is going to be the result..... It's not good.
If any of you guys are struggling with your mental health issues & symptoms I've listed a few online organisations dedicated to helping you - Check them out