INTERNATIONAL MEN’S DAY SPECIAL – CELEBRATING MEN AND MENTAL HEALTH

In celebration of International Men’s Day, let’s shed light on men’s mental health. As much as we find mental health awareness growing and more people seeking professional help, studies have shown that men are significantly less likely to seek help for mental health issues. Consequently, many of them suffer in silence and remain unassisted.

In this blog, let’s explore why this is the case and what we can do to improve the situation.

1) The Need to Be Tough

To promote mental well-being among men, we need to start by destigmatizing mental illness and removing the notion that seeking help is a sign of weakness or failure. As long as we hold on to the notion that “being tough” is what defines a man, it will remain difficult for men to admit that they need help and access the professional help they require.

Remember, toughness is not refraining from emotions or keeping things to yourself. Actual strength is facing difficult emotions, learning to express them healthily, and having hard conversations with courage. It is knowing when to reach out and get help, not trying to handle everything alone.

2) Societal Pressure

The need to be ‘manly’ comes from the stereotypes of what it means to be a ‘real man’. Living in a society which has created a narrative around traditional masculinity and what it means to be strong can often lead us to feel like we need to fit into the mould. Unfortunately, this has a detrimental effect on men’s mental health.

We need to challenge these standards and create an environment where people can talk freely and openly about their mental health, without fear or judgement. Enough of restricting the men’s narrative to strength, independence and success. There is much more to everyone’s story and we should be open to discussing all aspects of our lives.

It is crucial for men, especially those in positions of power, to take the lead in normalizing conversations around mental health and challenging this traditional idea of masculinity. By having open and honest discussions, men can feel more comfortable coming forward about their mental health struggles without fear of judgment or consequences.

3) Unique Challenges

Men experience certain types of mental health issues more than women, such as substance use disorder, social isolation, workaholism, and burnout. The difference doesn’t stop there, men also have a different way of dealing with mental health difficulties that again contribute to creating these unique challenges.  Studies have shown that while a man might intuitively understand that something may not be right, he will seek to fix it externally instead of internally. For example, when dealing with feelings of unease, men may ‘act out’ through behaviours like drinking, throwing themselves at work or even an increase in romantic partners. All the while, the problems are internal. 

 It doesn’t help that societal expectations of a man and others around them normalise and sometimes even celebrate these behaviours. We are familiar with the ideology that men who are ambitious, have high alcohol tolerance and even ‘play the field’ in relationships are perceived as ‘manly men.’ But this narrative doesn’t help anyone, not even men.

4) Breaking the Cycle 

The way out is breaking this vicious cycle. We should understand that men are not any less manly if they can identify and express their feelings. Whether the said feeling is that of frustration, sadness, kindness, love, or anxiety. All feelings are valid irrespective of who is feeling them. 

 To facilitate this, we must encourage positive communication and emotional and mental health awareness, thus giving men the space they need to express and process their feelings without repercussions. It is only in this way that men can move beyond being stuck in cycles of toxic masculinity.

To truly break the cycle of toxic masculinity, it is also essential that we speak up when we see any type of behaviour or attitude that encourages a culture of suppressing men’s feelings or acting a certain way to be ‘manly.’ Remember that this is not an attack on traditional masculinity, instead, this is a call for us to celebrate and embrace all aspects of being human.

You Are Not Alone

As a man, understand that you don’t have to do this alone. There are many other men and women out there who can help you on this journey to self-awareness, understanding, and healing. Reach out to trusted friends or family members who can provide a listening ear and professional services that can offer guidance on the mental health journey. 

 And last, learn to focus on yourself. Take time for yourself and take care of yourself. Make lifestyle choices that can aid in better mental health, like a balanced diet, regular workouts, and enough sleep. Have healthy outlets for emotions like writing, painting, or any other form of creative expression. 

 

Remember, mental health is essential for everyone, and men are no exception.

Author: Nivetha Kannan

Nivetha writes blogs on mental health and wellbeing topics for Silver Oak Health. She is a professional content writer and is passionate about the field of psychology & personal development. She writes impactful content that brings positive changes in people. Her mantra for life is to ‘be curious, and not judgemental’.