Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month

Men’s Mental Health Is Still Very Stigmatized

Mental health being stigmatized and not talked about enough is a record I’ll spin over and over again until it truly becomes okay to not be okay. I talk a lot about mental health in general, from my own experiences as a sports star and suicide survivor, but today I want to talk about a form of mental health that I find even more stigmatized than most others: men’s mental health.

Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and I think that is very important. Men’s mental health isn’t seen as anything other than weakness; it isn’t “manly” to show emotions, and you’re often told to “man up” or “tough it out.” I can personally tell you that the stigma around men’s mental health further pushed me to feel I couldn’t ask for help and that it was shameful to feel how I was feeling. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), 1 in 10 men experience depression and/or anxiety, and less than half of them seek any form of help or treatment. Additionally, four times as many men as women turn to suicide as the answer every year, a statistic that I myself can attest to being accurate.

The Facts

More than 6 million men a year suffer from some sort of depression or anxiety. Most of them go undiagnosed. More than 3 million men in the U.S. have panic disorder or some sort of phobia, social or otherwise. 2.3 million people per year are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, with equal parts men and women. According to the ADAA, the age of onset for men is between 16 and 25. And lastly, 3.5 million in the U.S. have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia, with 90% of them being men diagnosed before age 30. Most of the men in these statistics won’t seek any help or treatment.

What Are the Signs?

According to a Zencare article, some signs to look for are as follows:

• Withdrawing from social activities that they typically wouldn’t have before.
• Unpredictable fits of anger and frustration over seemingly everything.
• Unhealthy coping mechanisms like increased drinking, smoking, or drug use, as well as engaging in out-of-character reckless behaviors.
• Changes in sleep patterns, like sleeping too much or not at all.
• A lack of interest in hobbies and activities they once loved.
• Changes in appetite and weight.
• Talking about feeling hopeless or worthless.
• A decline in overall productivity in life and work.

Knowing some of the signs to look for can help you in helping yourself or a loved one understand their mental health and find ways to help them or yourself.

Breaking the Stigma

Men account for 80% of suicides in the U.S., and that is an unacceptable percentage. Although we have come so far in breaking stigmas and making mental health less of a taboo conversation, there is still a lot of work to be done. How can we help? Let the men in your life know that they are safe with you and that you are there for them. Ask them about what’s bothering them, listen to what they have to say, and most importantly, let them know that it is okay. One of the things I have learned in my journey is that true strength comes in asking for help. Only then can you begin the journey to understanding and coping with mental health. To put it plainly, it takes a village to overcome this disease. Take some time this month and reach out to the men in your life—friends, family, or lovers—and let them know that you love and support them no matter what.

Offer Help and an Ear

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone, and it is okay to not be okay. Ask for help if needed, and offer help if you see it. The people in your life would much rather help you than lose you.