Breaking the Silence: Why Men Need to Talk About Mental Health
The Elephant in the room
For generations men have been groomed with the belief that expressing their emotions is a sign of weakness. This can be attributed to several things, possibly the endless wars of World War I-II where they were expected to fight or the Patriarchal system of the world that has inadvertently gone against the men by putting a lot of expectation on them. Whatever reason, this has led to many men choosing to suffer in silence avoiding the shame of seeming less “manly”.
The Reality
Unfortunately, not speaking about such issues has resulted in very alarming statistics about men’s mental health. Studies show that men are less likely than women to seek mental health support, yet they experience high rates of stress, depression, and even suicide.
Healthline reports that men die by suicide approximately four times often than woman, they form nearly 80% pf all suicide deaths in the United States despite making up 50% of the population. Priory reports that in 2020 men accounted for 74% of all suicides with a rate of 15.4 per 100,000, over three times higher than that of women. This shows the devastating consequences of not addressing the issues.
If it’s so bad, why does it continue?
Several factors can be attributed to the silence of men on mental health issues:
1. Societal Expectations:
Many cultures across diverse cultures expect the man to be emotionless, from an early age sentiment like “men don’t cry” and to manage their issues on their own.
2. Lack of safe spaces:
There’s a lack of conversations or platforms in the male space about mental health making it harder for men to find a community where they can express themselves.
3. Misconceptions about therapy:
Some men believe therapy is only for extreme cases or that it won’t help them personally.
4. Fear of Judgment:
Many fear being perceived as weak or incapable if they admit they are struggling.
The Power of Speaking Up
Talking about mental health is not a sign of weakness—it is a sign of strength, finding a problem and seeking help to address it. As good as asking a buddy to help you carry furniture up a flight of stairs. Here’s why breaking the silence matters:
Encourages Connection: Sharing struggles helps break isolation and enable more people to come forward and share their story.
Reduces Stigma: The more men talk about mental health, the more we normalize seeking help, breaking the stereotype and unreasonable expectation of men not being able to talk about how they feel.
Leads to Better Coping Mechanisms: Opening allows men to access resources and tools for managing stress and emotions. Therapy becomes less of an evil and a place for recovery and healing, opening spaces and communities to allow men to actively help each other.
Saves Lives: Addressing mental health issues early can prevent crises and even suicide. Reducing those alarming stats of suicide, more issues addressed means we get to save more people from finding it necessary to end their life.
How Men Can Start the Conversation
Find a Trusted Friend or Mentor: Look around in your trusted circle, find a friend you’re comfortable with and let them know. If you are religious find a religious leader and share how you feel.
Join a Support Group: There are a number of support groups online that enable men to talk about their day-to-day issues, and if you prefer in-person group’s and there’s none in your area, you could start the first one! Remember your first step enables others too!
Consider Professional Help: Therapy or counselling can offer valuable guidance without judgment.
Engage in Healthy Outlets: Exercise, journaling, or hobbies can help manage stress and emotions.
Support Other Men: Encouraging open conversations with male friends can create a ripple effect.
Let’s get to Work
Breaking the silence around men’s mental health starts with small steps. All these small but big steps help foster an open culture for everyone to feel free to express themselves and find a place of belonging and a support system we all desperately need. Mental health matters, especially yours!