Men who are struggling don’t ask for help as frequently as women. A report by the National Institute of Mental Health found that 40% of men who have a mental illness received mental health care services in a calendar year, compared with 52% of women.
And the lack of treatment can have serious consequences. In 2022, 3.85 times the number of men died by suicide than women – an issue we have gone into detail about before.
What’s the reason for this?
Cultural causes of men’s poor mental health
If we look at different communities, there could be a number of reasons that men suffer from higher levels of mental health problems. In an article published a few years ago, the American Psychological Association looked at the issue of male mental health among the African American community.
The article pointed out the challenges that Black men face when compared with other groups, such as economic and educational disparities, alongside institutional racism and other societal issues that lead to injustice or prejudice. Suicides in this community are also rising, tripling from 36.24 per 100,000 people in 2013 to 103.81 per 100,000 people in 2022.
But this isn’t the only community where men’s mental health is suffering. The National Institute of Mental Health found that the highest groups at risk of mental health problems were Native American or Alaskan, White males, and individuals of two or more races – with 34.9% of this last group reporting to suffer.
There are undoubtedly cultural issues at play. For example, male “African Americans’ depressive occurrences are more disabling, persistent, and resistant to treatment than those experienced by Whites.”
But, looking at the bigger picture, this is an issue that appears to be rampant across communities and races and more needs to be done to help all men.
The problem that all men face
Across all communities and cultures, there appears to be one key problem that men experiencing mental health issues have.
Men, on the whole, don’t like to talk about their problems.
The prevailing idea of men being the “breadwinners” or the strong silent type means that men are less likely to reach out and open up when they have a problem. This means that men are also more likely to turn to harmful coping strategies such as drugs or alcohol.
So, what can be done to change this?
Approaches to helping men’s mental health
There are a number of ways that we can support men in our communities.
Earlier access to support
Many men who suffer from mental health illnesses didn’t get access to support early enough to prevent them reaching a crisis point or opportunities to engage were missed, according to one report.
Instead, men were only offered support once they had already become a risk to themselves or to others. A large issue here is that men often don’t see initiatives to help them as important until they have already hit rock bottom. A change in culture, a reduction of stigma, is needed to address this.
For anyone interested in developing an early intervention initiative of this kind, the Samaritans report “Engaging men earlier: a guide to service design” offers some great advice.
Men’s Sheds
One initiative that has proved very successful around the world, particularly for older men, is the Men’s Shed initiative. The beauty of this initiative is that it doesn’t force men out of their comfort zone, but instead embraces what many men already enjoy and uses it as a means of natural therapy.
The idea is to provide a space, with a supply of tools, where men can come together and pursue shared interests. Given that many older men suffer from loneliness, this simple act of encouraging community can alleviate their symptoms.
Men's Health Fairs
Men’s Health Fairs are becoming increasingly popular around the country, particularly in June which is men’s mental health month.
These fairs feature a wide range of different activities and groups to help you get control of your mental health. This could be looking after your health with information booths featuring doctors, dentists, or mental health professionals.
You can also find booths with community-focused groups, whether churches or other religious organizations or secular societies. In many cases, you can also find healthy cooking demonstrations or other support for diet or fitness.
These fairs are wonderful and welcoming places to explore what’s on offer for mental health support. If you see one in your local area, we would highly recommend taking a look to see what interests you!
Community specific initiatives
While male mental health is an issue that crosses all races, there are undoubtedly shared experiences within certain communities that can contribute to a specific type of suffering. This means that the most effective support can also come from these communities.
In the African American community, people like Rwenshaun Miller are doing great work to help Black men take control of their mental health. His “Brotherhood Mental Health Check-In” shines a light on common issues and provides community support for individuals who are suffering.
The American Psychiatric Association has also compiled a list of support initiatives for individuals of different backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ and refugee communities. You could also consider something like Crisis Intervention Team training if you would like to help others in your local community.
And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, remember you can always contact us at MHAI to find the best resources for you.
Are you a man who is suffering?
If you are a man who is suffering from a mental health issue, you are far from alone. No matter whether it is just occasional feelings of loneliness or a more serious problem, look for help now.
Any step, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction. This could be simply a matter of surrounding yourself with people who are positive influences or who build you up – such as joining a group or community. Of course, if you are having more challenging thoughts or are experiencing prolonged episodes of depression, please seek help today.
If you protect yourself, you will be in a better position to support your friends, family, or other loved ones.
Contact us today for more information.
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