What Keeps Men From Seeking Help for Their Mental Health?
The stereotype that men don’t need help – especially mental health help – persists to this day. Evidence shows fewer men seek out assistance for mental health challenges compared to women.
During the last few years, we have witnessed a rise in awareness about mental health issues. Celebrities and star athletes have promoted increased advocacy for mental health. Yet, men still are negatively affected by toxic masculinity and the fear of showing vulnerability. These factors and more can lead to men not getting help when they might need it.
A 2023 survey of 1,600 American dads conducted by Verywell Mind and Parents found that only a slight majority of men feel comfortable feeling or expressing emotions.
So, what keeps men from seeking mental health support?
What Barriers Prevent Men From Seeking Mental Health Assistance?
Men don’t go to therapists or mental health counselors for a variety of reasons, including pressure around societal norms, reluctance to talk about their problems, embarrassment, and shame.
Bombarded with messages from their culture or heritage, many men end up wanting to conform to a traditional masculine gender role. As a result, men are trapped because they don’t want to show weakness or vulnerability, especially when it comes to mental health problems.
As a result, women are more likely than men to receive any kind of mental health treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data brief.
In 2023, 17% of American men received counseling or therapy in the past year, compared to 28.5% of women. This is especially concerning considering the fact that men are 3.7 times more likely to die by suicide than women.
Do Men Seek Help For Physical Health Challenges?
Unfortunately, men aren’t going to physicians for regular medical care, check-ups, or run-of-the-mill injuries either. A national survey found 72% of men would rather do household chores than go to the doctor. Once there, they are not forthcoming about their issues.
For example, headaches, like migraines, affect men. But because migraines are invisible and have been viewed historically as a woman’s illness, men are less likely to consult a doctor or get diagnosed with migraine.
What Are The Major Mental Health Problems Affecting Men?
One of the biggest mental health problems affecting men is depression. Over 6 million males are affected by depression in the US per year, according to The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). However, research has shown that men are at greater risk of having their depression go untreated and even worsen because they are less likely to seek help for their symptoms.
Depression isn’t the only major mental health problem affecting men. The incidence of schizophrenia is much higher in men than in women, and the age of onset is three to four years earlier for men than women.
Another big mental health problem for men concerns alcohol addiction and substance abuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that men are more likely than women to use illicit drugs, and that the use of these drugs are “more likely to result in emergency department visits or overdose deaths” for men than women.
When it comes to male suicide, the 2022 statistics from The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention are sobering. The rate of suicide is highest in middle-aged white men, with white males accounting for almost 69% of suicide deaths. Men’s deaths attributable to suicide are almost four times higher than for women.
What Are the Treatments for Men’s Mental Health Problems?
While there are barriers for men to overcome that are often related to socio-cultural influences, mental health professionals usually offer the same options for treatment to men and women. They include medication, psychotherapy, and/or lifestyle changes.
There are a wide variety of psychotropic medications available to treat common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. While it’s best to see a psychiatrist – a doctor who specializes in mental health and the prescription of psychotropic medication – some men might feel uncomfortable seeing a mental health specialist. In this case, even consulting with your regular doctor can get you on the right path towards the best medication for you.
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can also be extremely helpful when dealing with mental health issues. Some therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), are action-focused and can be time-limited, sometimes only lasting eight to 12 weeks; this could be a good introduction to therapy for men who are otherwise unsure about committing to long-term treatment.
Diet, exercise, and getting good sleep are examples of helpful lifestyle changes that can positively impact mental health. Mental health professionals may recommend a variety of lifestyle and self-help approaches, including:
Solutions That Encourage Men To Find Help for Mental Health Challenges
Thanks to telehealth, like online therapy and low-cost therapy apps, technology has made it easier and more convenient for men to seek discreet help for mental illness.
While work still needs to be done to end the stigma about men seeking mental health services, a major change in terms of improving help-seeking behavior through education, motivation, increased use of male role models, and the increased building on positive masculinity should be employed to make a difference.
Learning more about mental health and mental illness can help men decide to seek support, and being encouraged to do so can bolster their determination. In addition, seeing other men talk about mental health and model good mental hygiene can help men feel less alone in their struggles and be more likely to speak up about what they are experiencing.
In addition, learning to associate masculinity with being able to ask for and receive help, rather than defining it by the ability to be stoic and silent, helps men allow themselves to be vulnerable and ask for help.
Here are some organizations that men might find useful should they need mental health assistance right away:
- Men who are suffering from mental health problems can contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness toll-free Helpline (call 800-950-NAMI) or text line (text “NAMI” to 741-741). This organization offers free referrals and support for those affected by mental illness.
- The Crisis Text Line is also available at 741 741 – simply text “HOME.”
- HeadsUpGuys is an organization that supports men fighting depression and suicidality by providing tips, tools, information on professional services, and success stories, as well as referrals to therapists.
- Men grappling with substance abuse can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline or call (800) 662-HELP for confidential, free 24/7 information and referrals to treatment centers, support groups, and community-based organizations.
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 988 for free, confidential support 24/7. However, be aware that if you are determined to be a danger to yourself or others, the police might be the first responders.
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