Surveys from around the world show that men everywhere find it difficult to open up about #mentalhealth, though they are significantly more at risk of attempting #suicide than #women. In this Special Feature, we look at why this may be and how to address this issue.

What affects the #mentalhealth of #men, and why do they find it hard to seek help? We investigate.

In high-income countries, three times as many #men as #women die by #suicide, according to a #WorldHealthOrganization (#WHO)Trusted Source report from 2018.

The #AmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention also cite 2018 data, noting that in that year alone, “#Men died by #suicide 3.56  more often than #women” in the #UnitedStates.

And #MentalHealth America, a community-based nonprofit, reference data suggesting that more than 6 million men in the U.S. experience symptoms of #depression each year, and more than 3 million experience an #anxietydisorder.

Despite these staggering figures, the #NationalInstituteofMentalHealth (#NIMH) report that #men are less likely than womenTrusted Source to have received formal #mentalhealth support in the past year.

Why is this the case? Recent research offers some explanations and proposes ways of remedying the situation.

#Stigma around men’s #mentalhealth

In their 2018 report, the WHO emphasize that cultural #stigma surrounding #mentalhealth is one of the chief obstacles to people admitting that they are struggling and seeking help.

And this stigmatization is particularly pronounced in #men.

“Described in various media as a ‘silent epidemic’ and a ‘sleeper issue that has crept into the minds of millions,’ with ‘chilling statistics,’ #mentalillness among #men is a public health concern that begs attention.”

Thus begins a study from The University of British Columbia (UBC), in Vancouver, Canada, published in 2016 in Canadian Family PhysicianTrusted Source.

Its authors explain that prescriptive, ages-old ideas about gender are likely both part of the cause behind the development of #mentalhealthissues in #men and the reason why #men are put off from seeking professional help.

Another study from Canada — published in Community #MentalHealth Journal in 2016 — found that, in a national survey of English-speaking Canadians, among 541 respondents with no direct experience of #suicidalideation or #depression, more than one-third admitted to holding stigmatizing beliefs about #mentalhealthissues in #men.

And among this group, #male respondents were more likely than #females to hold views such as: “I would not vote for a #male politician if I knew he had been depressed,” “#Men with #depression are dangerous,” and “#Men with #depression could snap out of it if they wanted.”

Among 360 respondents with direct experience of #depression or #suicidalideation, more #male than #female respondents said that they would feel embarrassed about seeking formal treatment for #depression.

One contributor who spoke to Medical News Today also pointed out that it is not easy for #men to be open with their peers about #mentalhealthstruggles.

“Talking about #mentalhealth isn’t something that tends to come up readily in particular social environments, such as when playing football,” he told us.

“Often, the relationships there are tied into the game and little else away from the pitch, which is a real shame,” he added.

For more research-backed information and resources for men’s health, please visit our dedicated hub.

Further stumbling blocks for #men of color

#Men of color and #men of diverse #racial and #ethnic backgrounds face additional challenges when it comes to looking after their #mentalhealth.

According to Prof. Norman Bruce Anderson, former CEO of the #AmericanPsychologicalAssociation — in the U.S., #Black and #Latino #men are six times more likely to be murdered than their #white peers.

Prof. Anderson also notes that #AmericanIndian #men are the demographic most likely to attempt #suicide and that #Black #men are most likely to experience incarceration.

According to Dr. Octavio Martinez Jr., executive director of the Hogg Foundation for #MentalHealth, the effect of these disparities on the #mentalhealth of #peopleofcolor and of diverse #ethnic and #racial backgrounds is “a double whammy.”

“Add the stigmatization of help-seeking #behavior by #men of all races to the unique stressors faced by #men and #boys of color, and it’s no wonder #men and #boys of color are at higher risk for #isolation and #mentalhealthproblems. These challenges can manifest as #substanceuse or acting out through violence and aggression — which can lead to more #stigma and a continuation of the cycle.”

On top of this, the authors of a study published in 2015 in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and UnderservedTrusted Source point out that “Medical experimentation on #AfricanAmericans during slavery laid a foundation of mistrust toward #healthcareproviders.”

All of these issues taken together lay a further barrier to #peopleofcolor seeking and accessing care for #mentalhealth when they need it.

#Men may have different symptoms

Specialists also point out that #men and #women can experience different symptoms of the same #mentalhealthissues. This, they say, may be partly a “side effect” of divergent views of #mentalhealth.

For instance, NIMH specialists explainTrusted Source that “Some #men with #depression hide their emotions and may seem to be angry, irritable, or aggressive, while many #women seem sad or express sadness.”

They also note that some symptoms of #depression are physiological, such as a racing heart, digestive issues, or headaches, and #men “are more likely to see their #doctor about physical symptoms than emotional symptoms,” according to the NIMH.

The organization also note that self-medicating with #alcohol and other substances is a common symptom of #depression among #men and that this can exacerbate #mentalhealthproblems and increase the risk of developing other health conditions.

So what can #mentalhealthprofessionals and policymakers do to ensure that #men feel confident and comfortable seeking support and that they receive the appropriate care?

Better #mentalhealth education

The first step in addressing these issues, researchers argue, is enhancing education about #mentalhealth.

In the Canadian Family PhysicianTrusted Source study, the researchers emphasize the importance of “disrupting how #men traditionally think about #depression and #suicide by breaking down the #stigma that surrounds these topics” through nationwide campaigns.

They also explain that it is important to help men change the idea of receiving support from “a mark of weakness” to a necessary step in maintaining one aspect of health that is as important as any other.

Anecdotal evidence supports these suggestions. One MNT respondent, for instance, told us that:

“ area I feel needs improvement is education. I had spells of bad #mentalhealth in my #childhood. It wasn’t until my #teenage years, when I became aware of my mother’s and grandfather’s history of #mentalhealthproblems, that I realised what was going on with me. As a #child, feeling anxious and/or depressed for no apparent reason was terrifying and only made my symptoms worse.”

“Also, not knowing what was going on made me embarrassed, and I usually wouldn’t tell anyone what was going on with me,” this contributor went on to say.

“I don’t know for sure, but if there had been education about #mentalhealth in my #childhood, I reckon my symptoms wouldn’t have scared me as much, and I would have been more open about talking about it with my #parents, #teachers, #healthcareprofessionals, etc.”

Another step in providing better support for #men, the UBC researchers say, is “changing the landscape” of care for #mentalhealth by offering community-based programs that help counter risk factors for #mentalhealthproblems, such as a sense of #isolation among older people.

But no intervention is complete until it accounts for the groups that face systematic marginalization, such as men of color and those of diverse #ethnic and #racial backgrounds.

Specialists have foundTrusted Source that #Black #men in the U.S. are more likely to seek support in informal settings, such as places of worship. Based on this, they have suggested “community-based participatory research” as an important first step.

This approach will require researchers to gain trust and seek collaboration from #BlackAmericans in finding out what needs to change to make formal support more accessible.

Dr. Martinez, referring to a report from 2014, also emphasizes the importance of community-based approaches.He promotes interventions aimed to encourage #men and #boys of color and of diverse backgrounds to connect on a personal level. “#Stigma fades when #men and #boys see resilience and #mentalhealth #self-care modeled by their fathers, brothers, #teachers, faith leaders, and friends,” he says.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

“Seek ways to demonstrate the connection between individual #mentalhealth and popular traditions of mentorship, cultural pride, self-emancipation and community action among #men.”
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