Men's Mental Health Month
- Jun 19, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 5, 2024
June is known as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the mental health challenges faced by men. This month aims to break the stigma surrounding men’s mental health issues, encouraging open conversations and seeking help. Men, including transgender men and non-binary individuals who identify as male, often face unique pressures and societal expectations that can lead to mental health struggles such as depression, anxiety, and stress. By promoting education, resources, and support systems, Men’s Mental Health Month seeks to empower men to prioritize their well-being, recognize symptoms, and access necessary treatment, fostering a healthier, more understanding society.
There is a significant stigma surrounding mental health among men and those who identify as male. Society often conditions these groups to view mental health conditions as weaknesses or sources of shame. This stigma contributes to higher rates of depression and anxiety in men and male-identifying individuals. According to Mental Health America, over 6 million men suffer from depression each year, often going undiagnosed and manifesting as fatigue, irritability, and loss of interest in work or hobbies. Anxiety also affects millions, with over 3 million men experiencing panic disorders, agoraphobia, or other phobias. Additionally, males account for about 10% of anorexia or bulimia cases and about 35% of binge-eating disorder cases, yet they are less likely to seek professional help.
The intersection of men’s mental health and suicide rates also highlights a critical issue affecting men and those who identify as male. Stigmas around mental health often prevent them from seeking help, leading to higher rates of undiagnosed and untreated mental health conditions. This can result in a tragic outcome: men are statistically more likely to die by suicide compared to women. This is because they are more likely to use methods that are more likely to cause death such as guns, may act more impulsively on suicidal thoughts, and show fewer warning signs such as talking about suicide (Anxiety & Depression Association of America, 2023).
Addressing this requires breaking down societal barriers, encouraging open conversations about mental health, and providing accessible resources and support for all men and male-identifying individuals. By fostering an environment of understanding and acceptance, we can work towards reducing suicide rates and improving mental health outcomes for this population.
References
Anxiety & Depression Association of America. (2023, January 5). Men’s Mental Health | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Adaa.org. https://adaa.org/find-help/by-demographics/mens-mental-health
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021, June). Men and Mental Health. www.nimh.nih.gov. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health
National Institute of Mental Health . (2024, February). Suicide - national institute of mental health (NIMH). Www.nimh.nih.gov. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide#:~:text=100%2C000%20in%202020.-
Mental Health Resources for Men in Brooklyn
