Content Warning: Suicide
According to The National Institute of Mental Health, Men with mental illnesses are less likely to have received mental health treatment than women.
Barriers Men experience when seeking Mental Health Treatment
- Hesitancy to talk about emotions
- Stigma and social norms
- Minimizing one’s own symptoms
Men’s Mental Health Statistics
- Depression in Males often goes undiagnosed. Men are more likely to report fatigue, irritability, lost in interest in work or hobbies—rather than feelings of sadness or worthlessness.
- In 2020, men died by suicide 3.88x more than women
- The rate of suicide is highest in middle-aged white men
- 90 percent of people diagnosed with schizophrenia by age 30 are men.
- 1 in 5 men develop alcohol dependency in their life time
Mental Health Symptoms
- Change in energy level
- Unexplained physical symptoms, such as stomach aches or headaches
- Change in appetite
- Gaining or losing weight
- Increased use of alcohol/substances
- Avoiding situations or difficulty leaving the house
- No longer wanting to socialize
- Reduced interest in activities that are usually enjoyable
- Changes in mood
- Increased anger and irritability
- Sadness
- Hopelessness
- Thoughts of self-harm
- Increased worry
- Feeling on edge
Resources that Aim to Eliminate Barriers for Mental Health Treatment
- ManTherapy
- Resource that allows for anonymity and self-assessment– also provides articles and information about mental health. From Man Therapy™:An Innovative Approach to Suicide Prevention for Working Aged Men: “We know many men experience suicidal thoughts, believe they are the only ones, and become hopeless as a result. We also know many types of interventions and mental health services that effectively prevent suicide exist. The problem is no one has successfully bridged the two and men continue to die without linking to a life-saving treatment or other intervention. THE GOAL OF MAN THERAPY is to show working age men that talking about their problems, getting help and fixing themselves is masculine.”
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
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- Call 988 Available 24/7
- Text 988 to utilize the Crisis Text Line Available 24/7
- Lifeline Chat-Available 24/7
988lifeline.org/chat
Resources
Man Therapy
Man Therapy: An Innovative Approach to Suicide Prevention in Working Aged Men
Men’s Health Month
Mental Health Resources for Men | BCBSM
NIMH » Men and Mental Health
Suicide statistics | AFSP
Too many men ignore their depression, phobias, other mental health issues – The Washington Post
