Breaking the Silence: Why Men's Mental Health Is a Growing Global Concern
One of the most significant shifts in this conversation is men’s mental health, which has been ignored over the years because of the societal expectations and views about masculinity.
Historically or according to the traditional norms of society, men are expected to display behaviours like strength, resilience, and emotional control, among many others.
Strive to fullfll expectations
The striving to fulfill these expectations is one of the reasons why most men don’t seek mental health guidance, leading to the suffering of conditions like anxiety and depression, among other conditions.
According to the World Health Organisation, the number of suicidal deaths in most parts of the world is higher among men than among women.
This is because of limited or no access to mental health help for men, and there’s also the fear of being judged by society.
Without the proper access to these services, they battle the thought of committing suicide until they end up giving
Use of social media as a tool
However, due to the rise of social media, the topic has been continuously discussed, and men get opportunities and platforms to express how they are doing mentally.
The discussion of the topic by even public figures has helped and encouraged most men to open up about their mental health; therefore, they end up getting the help they need.
November 19 is well known as International Men’s Day, where they get an opportunity to express their feelings and how they are doing mentally.
Read Also: Feeling Stressed? Here's Five Ways to Manage it Better
There is also Men’s Health Week that is held in the week leading up to Father’s Day, which is used to raise awareness on matters affecting men and how to overcome the challenges they are facing.
Breaking the stigma
This dialogue is not only discussed in social media but also in workplaces and schools, where they encourage men to speak out about their mental health, and they do this by providing mental health counselling offices at work and even in schools. They also hold events that promote mental health for men.
The fight continues
Although the struggle continues due to unlimited access to mental health services, the effort to create awareness about men’s mental health should be continuous to create a comfortable environment where they can speak out.
The rise of men’s mental health is a crucial step to creating a more empathetic society that will help to save many lives.
A kenyan youth with stress//gemini
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Traditional beliefs that men must be tough, independent, and in control create significant stigma around mental health, preventing men from seeking help for fear of being seen as weak or inadequate.
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Lack of Help-Seeking:Men are less likely to seek support for mental health problems compared to women, with data showing fewer men taking time off work for mental health issues.
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These gender roles are deeply embedded in cultures, making it difficult for men to openly discuss mental health struggles with employers, family, or friends.
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Climate change contributes to poor mental health through increased air pollution, heat stress, and food insecurity, with men in physically demanding jobs facing greater exposure.
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Financial insecurity, precarious employment, and economic instability are significant drivers of increased mental health and non-communicable disease risks for men.
