“Man up!”

“Stop crying! Men should not be crying!”

“Stop being too soft and sensitive!”

 

If you’re a man who is reading this, I’m pretty sure you have heard these lines at least once or twice in your life already. Mental health has been more recognized in the past few years compared to before, but it seems like it is still gendered. When it is women who talk and express their feelings, it is okay and it is expected, but once it is men who cry or feel nervous over something, everyone seems to have something to say about it. A crying man seems to be the wrong thing to do in the eyes of some conservative people. 

Did you know that 6 million men are affected by depression every year? While suicide is the 7th leading cause of death among males, Another fact is that approximately 1 out of 5 men develops alcohol dependence during their lives.

These are just some of the statistics about men’s mental health. Your mental health And as we’ve seen, the statistics are not good. So what can we do about it as simple citizens? 

 

Talk about men’s mental health and take it seriously.

 

It is time for us to take everyone’s mental health seriously. We always say we’re passionate about mental health, yet we don’t notice that we tend to choose only to whom we will focus our passion for mental health. This month, as we celebrate men’s mental health month, may we encourage boys, men, and their families and friends to practice and implement understanding of their mental health too. Even just for this month, may we be passionate about men’s mental health too, not only by other genders.

 

 

 

 

Myths That Prevent Men From Facing Their Mental Health Problems

One of the things we could first do to be passionate about men’s mental health is to identify the following myths that prevent men from facing their mental health problems. The following myths below are the common reason why our men are afraid to talk about their own mental health struggles. By assisting them in dispelling these myths, we may be able to truly demonstrate our genuine interest in assisting others with their mental health and remove the mental health stigma that everyone faces on a daily basis.

 

1. A Man Should Be Able To Control His Feelings

No! The more you control your feelings, the more they get out of control. Sometimes it is better to let yourself feel your feelings and not stop them from coming out. Remember that we can’t always control what we feel, but we can do our best to control how we react. 

 

2. Real Men Don’t Ask For Help

Actually, it is the other way around. Real men do ask for help. Real men are not afraid to acknowledge that they need help. Remember that it is okay to ask for help and there is nothing wrong with that. 

 

3. Mental Health Problem Is Equal To Weakness

Mental health problems are no different to physical health problems. It has nothing to do with personal weakness. It can happen to anyone. No matter what your gender is. In reality, your real strength is shown whenever you face your mental health problems.

 

4. Feeling Sad Or Down Is Not Manly.

Feeling sad or down is totally normal. It does not choose gender either. No matter how you identify yourself, it is okay to feel sad or down. Actually, being able to recognize and feel these feelings is a sign of bravery. It actually means that you’re willing to face these things no matter how hard they might be. 

 

5. Reaching Out To Others Will Only Burden Them.

It will never be a burden to ask for help. It is okay to reach out. You don’t have to go through this alone. If you feel shy about reaching out to the people close to you, remember that there are mental health professionals who are willing to help you. Like us, Shirley Therapeutic and Consulting Services, LLC, we are a diverse therapy clinic that can meet the needs of anyone. If you’d like to talk about your mental health, feel free to message us here.

 

So the next time you find yourself struggling with your own mental health, try to talk about it with your trusted friend or family member. Talk about your feelings and take it seriously. Remember the myths we discussed that need to be debunked, and educate others as well. And lastly, do not hesitate to seek help from a mental health professional.

 

 

References:

5 myths that prevent men from fighting depression. NAMI. (n.d.). Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://www.nami.org/blogs/nami-blog/march-2018/5-myths-that-prevent-men-from-fighting-depression

Borne, G. (n.d.). It is time to start taking men’s mental health seriously. The Lion’s Roar. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://lionsroarnews.com/24535/it-is-time-to-start-taking-mens-mental-health-seriously/opinion/

Infographic: Mental health for men. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://www.mhanational.org/infographic-mental-health-men

Paul John Scott and Peter Hapak. (2022, April 19). From worrier to warrior. Men’s Health. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a19532290/worrier-to-warrior/