An overwhelming stigma exists around discussing male mental heath and it is clear men have more difficulty discussing their own experiences than women. In this blog I will explore why this is the case and what we can do to start and amplify the much needed discussion.
These statistics are taken from the Men's Health Forum website: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/key-data-mental-health
Societies obsession with body image is extremely damaging for men, visible from the statistics above. A damaged sense of identity and self worth is often unavoidable as a result of constant exposure to the 'perfect' figure online and in advertising. It is important for individuals to, rather than distract themselves and hit the gym, take a look at why this obsession with body image exists and who they are changing themselves for. Writer, artist and activist Florence Given entitled her book "Women Don't Owe You Pretty". We need to also make it clear
men don't owe you strong.
Ask yourself: Why am I ashamed of what my body looks like? Why do I want to change myself? Who am I doing this for? Am I doing this for me?
Ultimately the stigma surrounding male mental health is a direct result of toxic masculinity - a cultural concept of manliness that glorifies strength and dominance and is socially maladaptive and harmful to mental health. Many see the term as an attack on male behaviour but in fact it was coined by men during the mythopoetic men's movement in the 80s and 90s. There is an overwhelming demand for men to serve society. Their role is outlined by the media and patriarchy - dominant, emotionally reserved, in control and strong. There is little room for showing poor mental heath alongside these expectations. Social environments dominated by fitness influencers and dieticians set unrealistic expectations of what a man's experience and appearance should be.The voice in your head saying "you are not good enough" is not your own, it belongs to the media and authority figures like these influencers.
The harsh reality is that this futile search for happiness is bound to lead to disappointment and damage to mental health. It is a proven fact that men suffer with mental well-being more than women. A British survey in 2012 found that men are less likely to use primary care services. 9 out of 10 men said they wouldn't seek advice from a doctor unless they felt they had a "serious problem". Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder are both preventable and treatable. Left unspoken about and suppressed these disorders can surface as violent crime and suicidal thoughts. Because of high suicide rates male life expectancy is nearly five years shorter than that of women.
How can we prevent male mental heath problems?
Learning to not compare yourself to others is easier said than done. A good place to start is setting your own goals, uninfluenced by anyone else. When we dictate our lifestyle choices we are incharge of them instead of the pressuring voices around us. Please don't suffer in silence, you are not 'weak' if you speak up. When you stay quiet your mind is disregarding your feelings as if they are unimportant. Your credibility is defined by your own view of yourself and ultimately no one else's opinion is significant if you choose to disregard it and separate it from your own.
Although how you view yourself is ultimately your choice and responsibly, this choice can be made easier by breaking down the rules set in place for men within society. We undoubtedly have to undo the stigma when it comes to men expressing their emotions and this starts with a few standing up and breaking the deafening silence. These organisations and campaigns are working to raise awareness about men's mental health:
'Talking Mental' Podcast
Talking Mental was set up in 2018 by Aaron Standlin-Robbie. The platform addresses all matters involving mental health and is a quick start guide to understanding the topic. The podcast episodes are direct and unfiltered and the most recent one discusses dealing with the anxiety epidemic caused by COVID 19.
Movember
This moustache challenge, launched in 2003, has grown into a global movement and targets a wide spectrum of men's heath issues, including mental health, by raising funds for charities and organisations. Movember brings a fun element to discussing men's mental health and is a great conversation starter.
Men's Health Forum
The forum provides 24/7 support for men via text, chat and email.
Man Health
This organisation is working to build support groups of male peers across the UK. They also provide training courses and campaign to raise awareness about male mental health. These services are still available during the pandemic as you can access their live web chats 7 nights a week from 6-10pm.
The guidance and support services that are available do not discriminate based on gender. Men are as entitled to help and respect as anyone else. There has never been a better time to seek help for your mental wellbeing but the first step has to be your own.
This link will take you to the mind website where you can find Information about mental heath problems and available support: