It can be challenging for people to discuss their mental health. Asking for assistance is frequently even more difficult for anyone. Men, however, who prioritize their mental health face an even greater shame due to cultural expectations.
There are many people who lack suitable coping skills, a support network, and even examples of how to take care of themselves and their mental wellbeing as a result of long-standing assumptions about what is appropriate for men and boys. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a crisis in the mental health of males, with record levels of depression and suicide among men worldwide. Understanding the stigma associated with men’s mental health is essential to learning how to support them as well as to preventing suicide.
The Stigma around Mental Health for Men
Men are subject to a wide range of expectations in localities all over world. They are trained to be confident, capable, and tough in their roles as the “provider” in relationships and families, and to never display doubt, hurt, or pain. There is nothing wrong with being strong or competent, though. However, these characteristics are neither unique to men nor do they exist in the absence of other emotional competencies. Men should be able to handle anything and keep going, which is what people are (at least theoretically) attempting to teach, and that may be very destructive.
We don’t want to impart the idea that pushing through despite obstacles and without assistance is healthy. Resilience is what we want people to learn, which is different from being bold and tough at all costs. The difficulties of life do not go unnoticed by resilient people. To digest and bounce back from setbacks, they are able to use both inner and outward resources.
Toxic Masculinity: What is it?
The idea that the only “true,” “proper,” or “ideal” way to be a guy is to exhibit power, dominance, control, and invulnerability is known as toxic masculinity. It does not imply that all men are by nature evil, sexist, or troublesome. Anybody, regardless of gender identity, is capable of harboring harmful views about masculinity or acting in harmful ways.
According to research, toxic masculinity and gender stereotypes hurt people of all sexual orientations and genders. They have an especially negative impact on gay men’s mental health since they have to deal with the systemic and personal effects of this toxicity. It makes it more difficult for men to access support for concerns like domestic abuse, rape culture, and substance misuse. Additionally, it reinforces the false notion that males are hardened, emotionless, and stoic and don’t require mental health treatments.
Problems faced by Males of Race
Men from various ethnic backgrounds experience greater stigma when identifying their mental health needs and seeking treatment. There are many layers to the problem, including systemic and cultural hurdles. For instance, due to economic disparities, it is challenging for individuals of color to consistently get inexpensive mental health care. Research indicates that those who can access mental health care receive more “appropriate and effective care” from clinicians of color who are also more likely to be sorely underrepresented in the medical community.
Crimes based on race place additional strain on the mental health of persons of color. Due to governmental mismanagement of the coronavirus, the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population was the victim of hate crimes last year. Asian-descent individuals have frequently experienced discrimination on the basis of race. The pandemic and social isolation had already taken a toll on people’s sense of safety and belonging, which were harmed by this treatment.
Men and boys of color are well aware in the Black community that they are perceived as issues first and people second. This is demonstrated by the excessive police and incarceration of African Americans, particularly Black men. When Black Lives Matter receives more media coverage in 2020, Black people reported higher feelings of anxiety and increased symptoms of depression.
How can we Contribute to Lessening the Stigma?
Education is the first step in eradicating the stigma associated with men’s mental health. Many of the elements that influence our emotional and psychological health are both subtle and systemic. Problematic presumptions that contribute to a negative and unhelpful picture of mental health must be exposed and corrected.
These suggestions will help lessen the stigma associated with men’s mental health:
1. Develop a fresh perspective on masculinity
Examples have great impact. Discuss what masculinity looks like with members in your community or group. Pay close attention to any preconceptions or widely held views that might be in opposition to the workplace culture you wish to foster. Ask for examples of actions that are significant to people, regardless of gender. This can help reframe certain beliefs as values that matter, not “masculine” and “feminine.”
2. Engage with People on a Personal and Communal Level.
In a piece on mental health interventions in the Black community, it’s emphasized how important it is to work with groups of people in addition to one-on-one clients. Since sharing personal experiences with others can help normalize and legitimize them, group therapy can be particularly effective at reducing stigma. These support groups can also be useful in exposing individual differences within the greater community, exchanging resources, and learning new coping mechanisms.
3. Avoid Rewarding or Punishing Certain Behaviors.
Every place of employment has a unique culture. These ingrained cultures support particular ways of being, thinking, and acting, whether consciously or unconsciously. Examine the culture of your organization. Are you encouraging some stereotypically masculine traits like hypercompetitiveness? that may be harmful or toxic? Are you discounting healthy behaviors? For example, you may find that you promote based on individual performance and dismiss positive outcomes from group projects.
4. Directly Address the Stigma associated with Mental illness.
Treating sickness is only one aspect of maintaining good mental health and fitness. However, discussions of emotional and cognitive wellness are frequently confused with mental disease by people. Nobody likes to be labeled as having “mental health problems” by family, friends, coworkers, or medical experts. As a result, it can be apprehensive to seek out any form of support because even researching mental health services can make you feel “crazy.” But just as being healthy isn’t the only measure of our physical fitness, being mentally healthy isn’t only about not being mentally ill. And even if you encounter a condition, you can still be emotionally and psychologically healthy.
Self-care involves taking care of oneself. It’s not a sign of craziness or weakness to be proactive about obtaining treatment; it’s just smart. A mental health problem is not the same thing as a psychiatric diagnosis. When symptoms are ignored, they fester like physical wounds and cause problems. To address the high prevalence of untreated mental health disorders among American men, changing the way we think and speak about mental health care is essential.
When should you seek Assistance?
Men’s mental health must be addressed on a communal basis, but individual mental fitness must also be given priority. Men are particularly vulnerable to substance misuse and suicide, which frequently result from neglected and underappreciated mental health issues. Please seek quick professional assistance if you or anyone else exhibits any of these symptoms.
- Sadness, hopelessness, or sedentary behavior.
- A lack of motivation.
- Any unprovoked rage, annoyance, or violent outburst.
- Increasing drug use.
- Alterations in eating and sleeping habits.
Silence fosters Stigma
It takes a lot of effort to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness, especially among men. It can, however, require a great deal of courage and self-awareness for those who speak up initially. That work need not be completed by you alone. You strengthen your foundation and make it simpler for others to do the same every time you seek the assistance of a professional, or simply a friend.
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