Men’s Mental Health
Our culture and society provide norms of masculinity that inculcate men that demonstrating emotion is a sign of weakness and they should be competent and strong and avoid showing vulnerability. As a result, men are inclined to downplay their mental health symptoms, suppress their emotions, and not recognize what they are experiencing, resulting in not seeking psychotherapy.
Men are less likely than women to be diagnosed with any of the most common mental health disorders, and those who have received a diagnosis are less likely to seek treatment. Men do not receive the mental health services they need for treatment, resulting in tragic consequences and placing them at higher risk for suicide. The World Health Organization (2018) reports that men commit elevated rates of suicide three times more often than women.
Men’s Mental Health Symptoms
- Edginess & Restlessness
- Aggressive Behavior
- High-Risk Activities
- Alcohol & Substance Use
- Chronic Headaches or Digestive Issues
- Difficulty Concentrating & Focusing
- Appetite and Weight Changes
- Fatigue & Tiredness
- Obsessive Overthinking
Men’s Mental Health Disorders
- Depression
- Social Anxiety
- Working Obsessively
- Sleep Disturbances
- Feelings of Sadness
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Alcohol & Substance Use Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Men face the traditional masculine stereotype of the ‘strong male’ and cultural stigma as their main challenges prohibiting them from obtaining help for their mental health struggles. Additionally, the demands of career and work, financial pressures, and medical conditions negatively impact their mental health.
Men are expected not to seek treatment due to their symptoms showing up in less obvious ways, making these common mental health issues make men feel isolated and alone with no support system in place. These challenges may manifest as anger, irritability, aggression, violence, or alcohol and substance use as a maladaptive coping mechanism to manage their symptoms.
Advocating for men’s mental health and supporting men in connecting with themselves and establishing insight, growth, and healing by providing exploration to discover their authentic selves, address underlying childhood trauma, depression, and anxiety, and build genuine and trusting relationships with others. An individualized method supports men to understand themselves better and to establish a solid toolkit of healthy adaptive coping strategies for emotional and psychological issues and stress.
As a result, men learn how to navigate life’s predictable challenges while staying authentic and connected with themselves and others.