Men’s Mental Health Month: Honoring the Silent Fighters

Do you know that the rate of suicide in men is three times higher than women in the United Kingdom? Are you familiar with the fact that men between the ages of 40 and 49 are at greater risk of attempting suicide than others? Are you aware that men are more likely to face challenges like homelessness and drug dependency than women?

Despite these facts, only 36% of NHS( National Health Services) psychological therapies are for men. Let’s lighten the unsung importance of Men’s Mental Health Month and discuss this neglected case. In our quest to raise awareness about men’s mental health, we will uncover societal pressure, dismantle stereotypes, and consider how all of us can contribute positively. In addition, we will examine how this day differs from Movember.

Moving from Mental Health Month to Movember

Mental Health America designated June as Men’s Mental Health Month. This program sheds light on men’s mental health struggles by dismantling powerfully embedded societal stigmas and facilitating open mental health discussions. Sometimes, it is confused with Movember, which is held in November. In Movember, men usually raise their mustaches to educate society about men’s mental health conditions. Aside from that, Movember also includes awareness about prostate and testicular cancer, making it distinct from Mental Health Month.

Disregarding Men’s Mental Health Day: Why?

1.    A Stereotypes Shadow

There is a belief that men should always be strong and unemotional, which has led many to suffer silently. At a time when mental health was of more significant concern to the public, men always suppressed their feelings due to the mindset fixed by people from a very young age they cannot suffer from mental health. They should remain strong throughout their lives and be a pillar for their family. When we delve deep into the narrative of these silent warriors, we find the pain and misery. Men are often prepared from the initial stages to suppress their emotions, which are intensely embedded in the cultural norms of society. As a result, men often downplay their emotional problems for fear of appearing weak if they seek help.

2. Stigmas Associated with Self, Society, and Culture

• Social stigmas about mental health disorders may lead to self-stigma; they seem weak if they discuss their mental health issues. They would not be able to handle the daily stress.
• They believe in the conventional ideas of masculinity set by society that a man’s primary duty is to be a handler of his family. They acknowledge that their mental health issues may put their obligations in trouble. To succeed and fail, they compare their achievements with their peers.
• It is common for a black community to consider men’s mental health a taboo subject. Consequently, they don’t seek help because they distrust the cognitive healthcare system.

Consequences of Ignoring Men’s Mental Health

Individuals and society suffer astonishing consequences as a result of mental illness. It severely affects men’s physical conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic heart diseases, renal abnormalities, and obesity. These conditions ultimately lead them to change behavior, like mood swings, homelessness, increased alcohol usage, substance abuse, unemployment, and even suicide. Apart from this, it is possible to maintain physical and mental health by engaging them in physical activities and raising awareness.

The Best Strategies for Raising Awareness

Mental health promotion of man requires an all-round approach. Men’s mental health needs to be made more visible by eliminating the associated stigma. For men to feel well mentally, supportive environments must be created, societal constructs must be modified, and understanding discussions must be encouraged. Below are powerful ways to raise awareness about promoting men’s mental health.

1.    Creating an Environment of Support

A caring community can make a significant difference in the lives of men fighting mental health. It can be done by encouraging them to seek support from healthcare providers. It is crucial to make them realize there would not be any issues if they shared their mental conditions with their peers. Providing new plans and ideas and sharing experiences may be self-relieving with peer support. Therapists and counselors can assist them by making them realize it’s expected to seek professional help in suffering.

2.    Designing Societal Structure from Scratch

We must challenge and reconstruct the social structure around masculinity by developing emotional literacy among boys and dismantling stereotypes. Boys must be taught that emotion must be expressed from a young age to be prepared for adversity. It is a characteristic of a human to feel pain and mental disturbance. We can smash relatable stereotypes by presenting them with the related model of masculinity and openly discussing their struggles with mental health.

3.    Encouraging Open Conversations

A forward-looking society can normalize men’s mental health by launching challenging discussions and public campaigns. It can convince men to open up about their mental condition and speak for their fundamental right to be cured. Public Health campaigns can target the eradication of myths, offering resources and counseling services.

Men’s Mental Health Month: Importance

We must celebrate Men’s Mental Health Month to support their mental health, families, friends, and communities. Men with mental health are more likely to maintain healthy relationships and become productive members of society. In most cases, men must learn what resources are available for their well-being. When we provide information through campaigns and celebrations, they can make more informed decisions about their health care.  In this way, we can play our role to improve the society as a whole.

Conclusion

Notably, men’s mental health awareness is a popular topic in June and November, but we should acknowledge men throughout the year. This month reminds us about the silent warriors among us. Because mental health isn’t gendered, we can wreck stereotypes, eliminate stigma from society and culture, and bring mental health into everyday conversation. It makes us ready to break the silence by fostering a culture that doesn’t just emphasize “standing up” but also emphasizes “opening up.” To change stereotypes and raise awareness about mental health, we must take small steps toward creating a world where men feel comfortable speaking out about their mental health problems.