There is an old and very upsetting story about a boy bringing a basket of kittens to school and the teacher not wanting them there. The boy was so upset that he eventually killed them all, except for one which had hidden away. It is an example of how men will internalize their feelings and suffer in silence rather than ask for help or admit they have problems.
Sadly, this type of behavior has been around for centuries but it seems that the ‘stiff upper lip’ approach doesn’t help anyone. Men suffering from depression should be able to talk about it with family and friends, as well as find someone else to speak to and get expert support (Cowell 2007). If we can shift the stigma surrounding depression and encourage men to discuss it, we may be able to save lives.
According to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), male suicide rates are at their highest level since 2001, with male suicides outnumbering females for the first time since 1993. Suicide is now the leading cause of death in males under 50 years of age (ONS 2012). It seems that many factors are working together to cause this increase, not least that the traditional role of the ‘man as protector’ has moved on but our expectations of what a man should behave not yet caught up. Men are no longer expected to go off to fight wars or work down coal mines but they do expect themselves to provide for their families financially (ONS 2012).
Getting into debt affects men twice as much as women. According to the Money Advice Service, 6 million people in the UK are now in serious debt (Hills 2010) and many of these people are men under pressure. The additional financial pressures on men can often lead to relationship breakdowns or violence (Cowell 2007).
Men who come out of long-term relationships with children also face difficulties in finding well-paid jobs because they cannot afford child care, so it is harder for them to stay in work when their personal circumstances change. This may be something that needs further investigation by Government agencies if this trend continues. However, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that there are many reasons why someone may take their own life and it cannot be entirely attributed to financial stress.
Perhaps the biggest reason that men don’t seek help is that they do not like to admit that there might be a problem, even if facing serious adversity. Men tend to hold back from talking about their feelings or anything that could make them appear vulnerable (Cowell 2007), so it can be difficult for them to open up and talk about depression. Bandura (1999) suggests: We may define our masculinity in part by how we deal with problems – especially those traditionally defined as ‘feminine’ such as mental health issues, domestic violence and child care… Many men remain uncomfortable with male weakness of any kind, including seeking for fear of appearing
How to get men’s mental health professional
Men’s mental health is more common therefore there should be more therapists who handle men’s mental issues. Severely depressed men attempt suicide if they do not get the help, self-harm due to social factors are the leading issues that nimh suggests that they trigger negative emotions in men.
Mental health problems that arise from male depression should be given immediate mental health treatment as there are many arising mental health concerns that surround men especially during the Covid pandemic period more symptoms of depression were seen in men and even as the male gender struggle to have positive strategies men regularly resort to substance abuse as a way to get away from their other mental health issues.
National suicide prevention lifeline mostly helps men get a mental health specialist to help treat their major depressive disorder and other mental health concerns that are usually treated in women differently. Men are rarely victims of physical health issues but they are more susceptible to mental illnesses and severe depression . Men are also more likely to be victims of substance abuse, drugs and alcohol which causes them to become even more depressed than they were before.
NIMH suggests that men who are already battling with feelings of depression should continue to seek mental health services when needed, because it is very important for men’s mental health treatment. It has also been proven that severe depressive disorders can lead to severe conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia (Covid Pandemic).
Men and suicidal thoughts
Men are more likely to get suicidal thoughts than women when they are battling depression. It is said that many men prefer to use drugs, alcohol, and other things to cope with their mental health issues rather than turning to treatment for help. Men often do not want others to see them as weak when they are dealing with mental health issues so the only way out seems like suicide to them. When a person gets in this state of mind it can be difficult to get them the help they need in time. When men feel suicidal they are more likely to use violence. Men who experience depression are at a higher risk of suffering from substance abuse, alcohol addiction or other drug addictions that can lead to suicide or death by accident.
Men’s mental health issues are very real and need to be taken seriously by people all around the world before it gets out of hand.
NIMH suggests that after you have gone through the initial process of getting help for your mental health issues, keep in touch with your therapist so you can continue your sessions until you get better. They also suggest that if you find yourself suffering from relapse or having thoughts of self-harm again, contact your therapist right away so they can help get back on track towards recovery. It is very important for men’s mental health treatment to be readily available so that the patient has less of a struggle when it comes to getting help.
The majority of people who commit suicide never seek professional help or even tell anyone about how depressed they feel because men find it embarrassing and try their best not to show weakness (Covid pandemic).
Male victims of domestic violence Mental abuse drives thousands of people into suicidal thoughts including men
So I think the number one issue is getting men in general in society to feel comfortable enough in their masculinity to admit when something psychologically has gone wrong with them; I suspect this ties in with how we define our own sense of masculinity (by what we do), rather than how others
How to tackle mental health issues and mental illness in men
Depression in men can be treated using the following ways;
Physical activity
Some men find that exercise lifts their mood, makes them feel more confident and social (University of Michigan Health).
Healthy diet
Eating healthily including fruit and vegetables helps your body stay healthy too (Mayo Clinic Staff). Some people with depression may not enjoy cooking or preparing food so it may be necessary for him or her to maintain a healthy lifestyle by getting take-out every now and then.
Talk about it
Talking about mental health issues can help men come out of their shells about emotional problems they are facing through support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, etc. These sorts of therapies can be very helpful for men to unleash their emotions and discuss how they feel without fear of being ridiculed (University of Michigan Health).
Getting help
There are a number of mental health services available for males that do not require him or to visit a psychiatrist in person such as telephone counseling, visiting websites like Better Help online and chat services like those on the website 7 cups Of tea (Drug & Alcohol Helpline).
Taking medication
Oftentimes men like taking fast action to solve their problems so they may choose this option instead which has been found by research as an effective way. Antidepressants have proved helpful in treating depression and anxiety especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (Drug & Alcohol Helpline).
When taking medication to treat depression, men should still attend counseling sessions as antidepressants have been known to have negative side effects if not taken correctly.
It is important to note that depression can also be a symptom of a certain disease or an addiction, so a man who believes he may suffer from depression must first take a look at his health and seek assistance from a doctor before treatment.
1+introduction&f=false>. There are organizations such as National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) which provide information about suicide prevention. If you feel like your mental health issues are getting out of control make sure you go see someone right away; it can be hard trying to get over the embarrassment but remember everyone has problems they need to face sometimes (Watson).
Catching it early
Men are often prone to hiding their emotions so they may not recognize depression when it first occurs, the best thing for them to do is seek help before it goes out of hand or turns into something more life-threatening like suicide (NIMH).
Therapy
This has proven helpful for many men dealing with issues such as anger management and substance abuse addiction who want to get back on track in life by starting all over again (University of Michigan Health). There are many types of therapy that men can seek out which are available in person, over the phone and online.
Acceptance & Change Therapy (ACT) is a type of therapy that has been known to be helpful for people suffering from anxiety disorders who want to work through their problems rather than avoid them by engaging in addictive behaviors or substance abuse (NIMH).
Imagery-assisted stress reduction (IAST) is helpful for men dealing with chronic pain who have trouble sleeping at night due to physical discomfort so they may relax better when trying to fall asleep. This can be done either in person or online depending on what the patient prefers more.
Online Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Program for insomnia has also proven to help men overcome their sleep deprivation issues because it teaches them good sleep hygiene practices to maintain a healthy lifestyle which can also help them to cope with any issues they may have.
Other Treatment
Biofeedback has been found helpful for men who wish to reduce their blood pressure and heart rate through training their mind and body to become more relaxed, this method is done in person but it only takes a few weeks of practice every day until the patient sees positive results (Radix).
Some men benefit from joining support groups as well where they can share stories about what they are going through as well as how they got over depression by following certain steps such as those mentioned earlier at Alcoholics Anonymous, etc., this offers them emotional support from their peers which helps them feel less isolated from the rest of society because they might feel scared about talking about how they feel or what is going on with them.
In the end, it is important for men to seek help as soon as possible because untreated depression can escalate into more severe forms of mental illness such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia so getting the proper treatment sooner than later ensures that these sorts of mental conditions never develop at all (NIMH). It may be necessary for him or her to maintain a healthy lifestyle by getting take-out every now and then.
Talking about mental health issues can help men come out of their shells about emotional problems they are facing through support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, etc. These sorts of therapies can be very helpful for men to unleash their emotions and discuss how they feel without fear of being judged by those around them.
Yoga/meditation
Yoga can be very beneficial for men suffering from chronic pain, mental illness, anxiety disorders, and other stress-related problems by the body’s parasympathetic system being activated which helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure (University of Michigan Health).
Mental health problems affecting men
The most common mental health problems affecting men include;
Physical illness (such as heart disease, diabetes, etc.)
A man experiencing an illness like this may experience depression due to feeling out of control of his own body and emotions. This is because if someone does not have a strong foundation in their life then any sudden changes occurring lead them to feel different which may bring feelings of insecurity or lack of confidence leaving them with mental health issues that need treatment. Difficulty dealing with stressful life changes including relationship breakdowns, unemployment, financial problems or homelessness. These are major causes for stress leading to anxiety disorders.
Relationship difficulties If a man experiences trouble in maintaining healthy relationships with family members, friends/colleagues it can cause him to suffer from depression especially if he lacks the self-maintenance skills needed to maintain a stable lifestyle. Addiction Some mental health problems that affect men are addiction especially substance abuse due to feeling the need to numb their feelings but this will only leave them dissatisfied at the end of the day and lead to a worsening state of mind which is why they need treatment, not a temporary fix.
Sexual problems
Sexual problems are some of the most embarrassing mental health issues men can experience and often go untreated, but we all need to understand that this is nothing to be ashamed of and it does not make us any less of a man (NHS).
Common sexual problems for males include:
Erectile dysfunction – the inability to get or keep an erection Masturbation addiction – where a person feels compelled to engage in excessive masturbation. Early ejaculation – either not being able to delay ejaculation until their partner has achieved orgasm or ejaculating before they want to. Delayed ejaculation – it takes too long for them to reach orgasm during sex.
Low self-esteem When a man does not have high levels of self-esteem he will feel insecure about himself which may lead him to think that no one can love him or that they are just pretending to be his friend so they can take advantage of him, this may lead to relationship issues.
Unhealthy coping mechanisms
When a man feels out of control of their life they may resort to using unhealthy coping mechanisms in order to feel better so they use drugs or even excessive drinking which can become addictive. If left untreated it leads them to feel worse leaving them with more mental health problems. This is because when an individual tries dealing with these emotions on their own without receiving treatment for mental illness men will engage in self-destructive behaviors such as risk taking, violence, gambling, etc… (NHS).
Mental disorders affecting men
The most common mental disorders affecting men include:
Depression – feeling sad or hopeless most of the time. Anxiety disorders – when a man feels anxious all the time, which will interfere with their daily activities. Psychotic disorders – include schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (NHS).
Treatment for mental illness in men
When treating men who are suffering from mental health problems it is important to understand how they may feel ashamed about having mental issues so there needs to be an environment where they feel comfortable talking about their emotions without worrying about being judged. How can we help them? Well, treatment varies depending on the type of disorder that is affecting each individual but some treatments include taking antidepressants, working with a therapist to change thought patterns, attending group meetings to discuss similar difficulties/experiences, etc. (NHS).
Mental health problems can affect anyone regardless of their age, gender or ethnicity which is why it’s important to get the help you need and not suffer in silence. If you’re having trouble coping with life changes visit your GP who will be able to identify if you have a mental illness and what treatment options are available to help you get back into a routine that works for you.
