November is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, bringing to light the particular challenges men so often experience with their mental health. All of us have our struggles with mental health, but unfortunately, it is less likely that men seek help or open up emotionally than it is for women. It is a critical period that calls upon us all to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and make such resources more available and relevant to men’s needs.
Encourage open communication: Give them space to express their feelings without judgment. Ask them what they feel and be there to listen, don’t be too quick to give solutions or judgment.
Normalize therapy and counseling: Advocate for mental health resources and treatment. Demonstrate that being honest about one’s problems and asking for assistance is the best approach, and it is not something to be afraid of.
Be watchful for warning signs: Be aware of the signs of mental health problems in others, which may be seen through withdrawing from society, irritability, sleep patterns, or diet changes. If any warning signs are exhibited, one should push them to open up and talk about it.
Currently, men’s mental health issues are either not discussed or are inadequately dealt with, which results in major consequences. Some statistics below outline this:
Suicide rates among the genders, men are more likely than women to die by suicide. The CDC states, that the number of men who commit suicide is nearly four times that it is for women. The highest ever is in the ages 45-64 of males.
Depression and anxiety: Although men are equally prone to depression as women, fewer men get diagnosed— due to several reasons. Men who experience depression differ from women, their symptoms come in the form of regular expressions such as becoming angry, irritable, or tired. That’s why it’s typically diagnosed as self-diagnosed or stressed.
Substance abuse: Men are more susceptible to risk-taking behaviors such as drug abuse which can be the result of depression, anxiety, or trauma.
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges men experience mentally and alter the stigma that contributes to preventing men from seeking treatment and support. With more open dialogues of support, having placed emphases on mental health resources, we can help men live healthier and fuller lives. Mental health does not discriminate against genders, and it is time we all acknowledge that taking care of our minds is just as important as taking care of our bodies.
