The conversation about men’s mental health has increased in recent years. This increase is because, as studies and social movements advance, it has become clear that challenging culturally ingrained stigmas and prejudices are essential to achieving well-being.
We all have days when our mood is not at its best, or we are simply feeling “down”. This can happen for many reasons: work, changes in our interpersonal relationships, losses of some kind, etc., and it is okay to recognise that such “imbalances” in our mental health are completely normal and expected. Understanding emotional fluctuations as a part of life, in fact, is what, in many cases, will help us get through these difficult times in the best possible way.
However, when the burden or discomfort overwhelms us, it may be time to seek a specialist to support us in this process. This should not be a cause for shame or fear. On the contrary, knowing how to ask for help in time represents strength and the ability to take charge of what concerns us to prevent the distress from worsening.
The problem is, although it sounds logical – in theory – many people find it difficult to ask for help when needed. In fact, our Mental Well-being Trends report found that 57% of people who seek counselling do so after experiencing these symptoms for a year or more. In turn, such waiting aggravates the symptoms and results in 40% of those users rating their symptoms as “highly severe”.
Men’s mental health stigma
A few years ago, talking about mental health was considered a taboo subject because not enough information was available. Fortunately, things are changing, and it is now easier to talk about what really matters: mental well-being. However, there is still a long way to go.
Historically, as a society we have had to deal with a damaging idea that stigmatises especially men who show any kind of vulnerability, be it mental, emotional or physical. This stereotype is characterised by labelling men who express any emotionality as “weak” or even “inferior”, and reinforces the false belief that men should always be “strong, independent and capable of overcoming any obstacle on their own”.
It is therefore not difficult to deduce that this results in some men refusing to seek counselling, or even avoiding showing that they are going through a difficult time, for fear that this will be seen as a sign of weakness. Such fear, in turn, increases the risk that problems will not be addressed in time, causing them to worsen and lead to suicidal behaviour, physical illness, or psychological disorders.
Understanding this social context, it should come as no surprise that men’s mental health continues to represent a topic that is widely avoided. And, at the same time, it is the reason why it is important to combat such stigma and increase the conversation about it.
Today, we know that these socially imposed beliefs are not only false but represent a risk to men’s mental health. In fact, recognising and accepting vulnerability is not only a sign of courage, but also the first step towards achieving a state of general well-being.
Understanding the importance of men’s mental health
As human beings, we all can perceive, think and feel. This means we are all destined to experience a wide range of emotions. Why? Because emotions play a crucial role in our lives. From the simplest explanation, emotions are evolutionary adaptations that help us interpret the world around us and thus cope with our different situations. Therefore, learning to identify and manage these emotions best is essential to maintain a state of general well-being.
However, despite the apparent simplicity of this premise, the reality is that it is not always easy. In many cases, and specifically in terms of men’s mental health, social expectations and pressure to conform to the traditional ‘ideal’ of masculinity have led men to ignore what is going on in their emotional world and hide their inner struggles.
But what happens when we turn our backs on what we feel? We are likely to stagnate on our path to mental well-being. This is because emotions serve as signals that alert us to a need we need to meet or indicate the presence of something we need to pay attention to. Consequently, denying our emotions, repressing our feelings, and hiding our struggles only leads to those needs going unmet, worsening the original condition.
For this reason, not attending to what is happening to us in time causes a deterioration in our well-being and, ultimately, in our mental health. The accumulation of stress, anxiety, anger, or sadness can have a detrimental impact on our daily lives and interpersonal relationships.
Talking about men’s mental health is fundamental to building a more understanding and empathetic society, breaking down the stigmas that are still associated with this issue. By making visible the importance of talking about emotions and mental well-being in general, we put the possibility of seeking support on the table and pave the way for other men to do the same.
Support from business
Work environments, as spaces of constant interaction, are not exempt from mental health stigma. Therefore, organisations must join initiatives that propose to talk more about workers’ mental health. Not only because this will increase staff productivity but also because creating safe spaces and providing support in companies has been proven to improve the level of well-being of teams at work.
Human Resources departments have a responsibility to provide tools to help and raise awareness of the various issues that pose a risk to employees’ mental and physical health. This enables the workforce to detect problems early, overcome stigma and ask for help when needed.
In this way, companies can take different measures to support the fight against stigma about men’s mental health. These include joining initiatives such as Movember, offering employee benefits, and promoting company wellness programmes to help foster a positive working environment where employees feel safe and supported.
Caring for mental well-being in organisations
At ifeel, we understand that it is time to break the stigma that has surrounded men’s mental health for so long, creating spaces where people can ask for help and talk openly about what really matters.
To get this idea across, our expert workplace well-being psychologists have created a mental well-being programme for businesses that benefits the whole team, including HR managers.
That’s why, through our mental well-being solution, HR managers can receive personalised, data-driven advice on improving the mental well-being of their teams. Are you part of your organisation’s HR department? Try our programme now to see how it could help you.
In addition, this programme offers all employees a complete mental health care service that they can access in different ways depending on their needs: those who wish can access an online therapy service with one of our psychologists, specialised in cases like theirs, or interact with one of our professionals to receive emotional support in a more specific circumstance that worries them.
We hope you found this post about men’s mental health interesting. If you would like more information about our mental well-being solution for companies, simply request it, and we will get in touch with your team as soon as possible.
