Howdy!
As some members have pointed out; June is Men's Mental Health Month!
Yes, it's also pride month this month. And for those who are wondering when the Women's Mental Health Months was, that is in May (may vary per country).
Why is discussing Men's Mental Health so important?
Mental disorders affect men and women. The prevalence of several mental disorders is lower in men than in women. However, other disorders are diagnosed at comparable rates for men and women or at higher rates for men, like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Men are also more likely to die by suicide than women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Certain symptoms may also be more common in men than women, and the course of illness can be affected by a person’s sex. Researchers are only now beginning to tease apart the various biological and psychosocial factors that may impact mental health.
Men are less likely to have received mental health treatment than women in the past year. Recognizing the signs that you or someone you love may have a mental disorder is the first step toward getting treatment. The earlier that treatment begins, the more effective it can be.
But mainly, and that is what we have been seeing here on r/mentalhealth a lot: people assume that men don't struggle simply because they are often portrayed, or expected, to be strong and silent. This expectation is rooted in toxic masculinity and has resulted in poor mental health outcomes for men.
A research has shown that:
- 77% of men polled have suffered with symptoms of common mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress or depression.
- 40% of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health.
- 29% of those say they are "too embarrassed" to speak about it, while 20% say there is a "negative stigma" on the issue.
- 40% of men polled said it would take thoughts of suicide or self-harm to compel them to get professional help.
That last one is alarming, this means that the majority of men will not seek professional help when they struggle with suicidal or self harm thoughts! Men don't talk about their issues and often think: 'I’ve learnt to deal with it', 'I don’t wish to be a burden to anyone' or ‘I have no-one to talk to’. We hope r/mentalhealth will offer you a safe place where you anonymously can share your story. While we are on the topic of being anonymous, it is totally okay to create a new Reddit account and post here on that alt account!
77% of men polled said they experienced some level of symptoms for common mental health problems such as anxiety, stress or depression.
But what underlying factors are driving those symptoms? Respondents were asked about the biggest causes of pressure in their life – pressures that might negatively impact their mental health.
The top three issues were:
- Work-related pressure – 32%
- Financial pressures at – 31%
- Health concerns – 23%
Is this something you recognize?
So what is? As with all complex healthcare issues, there is no easy answer when it comes to redressing the disparities in access to formal support for people of color and those from other diverse ethnic backgrounds. Nevertheless, where there is a will, there is a way!
If you are struggling, it would be helpful to visit your local healthcare provider. But doing that can be scary.
You might feel that they won't listen or are able to understand. Or you might struggling to put into words how you feel. In both cases, this article, will give you some tips and tools on how to talk to your primary care provider. You deserve to be seen and heard!
r/mentalhealth is a peer to peer support subreddit. Please share in the comments what has helped you!
This can be a podcast/music/a video/a book/an article or an app (yes we will screen them for promotions).
Or you are more than welcome to share your story on how you approached getting help IRL. Was it as difficult as you maybe thought. Would you do something different? What was the response you have gotten after asking for help?
And if you need help, please let us know what you are dealing with. So others can give you some tips on what worked for them. Or maybe they recognize themselves in your story!
Aside from awareness, we hope this can spark a conversation on the topic. Because conversations and connecting with eachother is what we are all about.
Stay safe!
And if you are currently in a crisis, please check out our wiki or this website!
At the end of the month we will look at all the resources/tips/tricks you have provided in the comments and make a dedicate wiki page to Men's Mental Health and include those.