The Stigma Surrounding Men's Mental Health | Online Docs

Introduction

The stigma surrounding men's mental health is a significant problem that needs to be addressed. Men are less likely than women to seek help for psychological problems, and the result is an increased risk of suicide among men. Why do we still have such a culture of silence around male mental health issues? And how can society help break down these barriers and reduce the stigma?

Men are just as likely to suffer from mental health problems as women

Men are just as likely to suffer from mental health problems as women.

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), men are less likely than women to seek help for their mental health issues. This is because they're taught that masculinity means being tough and not showing emotion, so they don't believe that talking about their feelings will help them in any way.
• In fact, according to an article published by The Guardian titled "The Stigma Surrounding Men's Mental Health," four times more men die by suicide than women do every year in England and Wales alone--and there are many other countries where this trend holds true as well.

This may be the reason why men tend to deal with problems on their own. Men also tend to avoid talking about their problems with others because they fear that they will be judged by others or are afraid of being ridiculed.

Around 1 in 8 men have a common mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression

According to the Mental Health Foundation, around 1 in 8 men have a common mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression. This means that if you're male and you suffer from these conditions, there's no reason to feel embarrassed or ashamed about it.

You might be surprised to learn that men are actually more likely than women to experience mental health issues. According to some studies, around 15% of men will suffer from depression at some point in their lives, compared with only 7% of women who report experiencing depression. There are several reasons for this discrepancy, one possibility being that many people don't realize how prevalent these problems are among both genders until they themselves have suffered from them firsthand.

A third of men don't feel comfortable talking about their feelings with friends or family

There are a number of reasons why men may be less likely to talk about their feelings with friends and family. For one thing, society has taught us that it's not "manly" to do so--especially when compared with women who are encouraged from a young age to share their emotions and seek support from others.

Another reason is that men tend to rely on their partners as an outlet for discussing the issues they're facing; this can be especially true if you've been married for some time and have built up trust over time together (and feel safe doing so). But if you haven't had much experience talking about your problems with another person before getting into a relationship or marriage, then finding someone else who knows what you're going through can be difficult at first--especially if there aren't many people in your life who understand what it's like living as a man in today's society!

Men tend to hold back from talking about their problems and would rather deal with issues on their own

Men are less likely than women to talk about their problems and would rather deal with issues on their own. This is because men tend to hold back from talking about their problems, feel ashamed about them, or even believe that they should be able to solve them by themselves. Men would rather deal with issues on their own than seek help from others because they want to appear strong and independent in front of others.

Men are less likely than women to seek help when they need it because they are afraid of being seen as weak or incompetent. This is especially true if the problem relates to issues of sexuality, mental health, and addiction.

Men are less likely than women to seek help when they need it because they want to appear strong and independent in front of others. Men are less likely than women to seek help when they need it because they are afraid of being seen as weak or incompetent. This is especially true if the problem relates to issues of sexuality, mental health, and addiction.

The top reason why men don't seek help is the fear of what people will think of them

The top reason why men don't seek help is the fear of what people will think of them. They're afraid to ask for help because they don't want to be seen as weak, a failure, or a loser. Men are socialized from an early age to believe that being strong, independent, and successful--the three S's that society has told us matter most--is paramount in terms of masculinity. For example: If you're not strong enough, then how can you protect your family? If your job isn't prestigious enough, then how do you support them financially? And if someone doesn't like who you are as a person, then who cares because at least they know where they stand with me!

This idea has been ingrained into our minds since childhood. It continues through adulthood until it becomes part of our identity, which makes it difficult for many men (and women) today when trying to find a balance between their own needs versus those around them.

It's time to end the stigma around men's mental health

The stigma surrounding men's mental health is a severe problem. Men are less likely to seek help for their depression and anxiety than women, and they're more likely to suffer from these issues in silence because they don't think it's "manly" or because they believe it should be a purely personal matter.

The truth is that men are just as capable of suffering from mental illness as anyone else—and we need to change our attitudes about how we talk about this issue if we want more people to experience the full spectrum of emotionality.

As a society, we need to be more open about the fact that men's mental health is just as important as women's. Men don't have to conform to outdated stereotypes about what it means to be masculine, and people shouldn't expect them to.

Conclusion

We know it can be challenging to talk about your problems and seek help. But we also believe that there is hope for a better future, where men are no longer afraid of being judged and can get the support they need. You may not have been diagnosed with a mental health condition yourself, but you may know someone who has--and if so, please take this opportunity to encourage them to seek help!