Men’s Mental Health and Why we need to talk about it

The tragic suicide of Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old techie, has shocked the country (Pandey, 2024). Not only does it reveal the Indian judicial system’s shocking inefficiency, but it has also prompted a bigger discussion regarding men’s mental health. This instance has driven men’s rights activists to raise awareness about the unique mental health challenges that men experience. While debates surrounding matters of alimony and other gendered concerns continue, it is important to pay due attention to the often-overlooked struggles that men face.

Contrary to a popularly held belief, the reluctance of men to seek help isn’t solely because of societal conditioning or the deeply entrenched gender roles, although these factors majorly contribute. The issue is a lot more nuanced and understanding its complexity is important in light of the suicide rates and mental health disorders among men continuing to rise.

Cultural Conditioning and Gender Stereotypes

From an early age, boys are socialised to keep their emotions down and be less expressive. Cultural conditioning teaches them to be tough and stoic, while vulnerability is labelled as a sign of weakness. This creates an unhealthy, stifling environment where emotional expression is restricted, and as a result, many men feel isolated in their struggles. While showing happiness, joy, and anger may be socially acceptable, sadness and vulnerability are often ridiculed or stigmatised. This double standard encourages a false narrative about men being less emotional by nature, which thereby fuels harmful stereotypes.

Patriarchal structures further reinforce these behaviours by maintaining expectations for men to remain composed and stoic in all circumstances. True stoicism involves managing emotions and navigating life’s ups and downs with resilience. However, this ideal has often been misunderstood as being emotionally detached. As a consequence, men suppress their feelings that, over time, can spiral into bitterness, resentment, and problematic behaviours, impacting not only men themselves but also their relationships (Clinic, 2024).

The perception that men must be self-reliant adds to the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. When men do experience emotional pain or mental health issues, they may feel forced to mask their suffering, worsening their struggles. As a result, many men suffer in silence, believing that reaching out to others or seeking professional help will ruin their image as strong, capable individuals. 

Why Focus on Men’s Mental Health?

Some critics might question why there is a need to pay exclusive attention to men’s mental health when general mental health discussions are already prevalent. The answer lies in the distinct societal pressures men face. The stigma surrounding mental health, coupled with societal expectations for men to present themselves as “strong,” creates a double trouble that is often overlooked. Understanding this perspective encourages a more nuanced conversation about mental health that acknowledges the varied experiences of different gender identities.

Psychologists have observed that men and women often experience and express mental health challenges differently. While women may internalise their symptoms, leading to expressions such as sadness or withdrawal, men tend to externalise theirs (Rowan, 2011). They may display symptoms of depression and anxiety through physical and verbal aggression, irritability, or substance abuse.

What is concerning is that surveys and diagnostic tools frequently focus on internalised symptoms, potentially neglecting the externalised manifestations of mental health struggles in men (American Institute of Boys and Men, 2024). This has serious implications for clinical diagnosis, as accurately identifying and addressing mental health disorders in men becomes more challenging. To genuinely support men suffering from mental health issues, it is crucial to broaden our understanding and recognition of how these challenges may present differently across gender identities.

Is Therapy Effective for Men?

For men, seeking therapy can be a courageous step forward. However, traditional therapeutic approaches may not always work well with their needs. Studies indicate that in rare cases where men do seek therapy, they are often less likely to attend multiple sessions or drop out before they have made considerable progress (Seidler et al., 2021). A major reason for this is that therapy often emphasises emotional exploration, which may not align with the way many men prefer to make sense of their experiences. 

Psychotherapist Sue Parker Hall identifies three primary ways through which individuals engage with the world: feeling, thinking, and behaving. Many men tend to gravitate toward the latter two, often valuing action and rationalisation over emotional exploration (The Big Issue: Sometimes It’s Hard to Be a Man, n.d.). Consequently, therapeutic methods that rely heavily on discussing feelings may feel alienating to them, creating a barrier to effective treatment. Instead of traditional talk therapies, many men might benefit more from approaches that combine emotional expression with productive activities. Problem-solving strategies that are action-oriented can help men feel more engaged in the process.

Exploring Different Modalities

The question is not whether men should simply “hit the gym and thug it out.” While engaging in physical activities can be a helpful way to channel pent-up energy, it is certainly not a comprehensive solution for mental health. Thankfully, there are multiple therapeutic modalities available, and identifying the right one that is tailored to cater to men’s needs may be game-changing.

One particularly effective approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This modality is a more structured and action-focused approach that makes it suitable for men (Phillips, n.d.). CBT focuses on identifying and altering negative thought patterns and behaviours, providing individuals with practical tools they can utilise in their everyday lives. This emphasis on actionable change can bring a sense of control and engagement within the therapeutic process, making it particularly appealing to those who may struggle with traditional methods.

Additionally, acknowledging the importance of alternative therapies, such as mindfulness practices, can integrate emotional awareness with practical coping strategies. These therapies target the emotional disengagement many men experience and offer a way through which they can express and manage their feelings in a non-threatening context.

Towards Better Representation

Another barrier to making men’s psychotherapy more mainstream is a lack of representation in the mental health sector. Psychology is often thought of as a female-oriented field, which is quite evidently reflected in the statistics of mental health practitioners and students (Willyard, n.d.). The fact that the majority of therapists are women could perhaps lead to a sense of disconnect for male clients seeking treatment.

Pushing for diversity within the industry and encouraging more men to pursue a career in this field may hopefully raise awareness of topics particularly important to men and make treatment more accessible to them. Also, it is absolutely necessary to create conditions that are conducive for men to openly voice out their mental health concerns. Hence by providing safe spaces for men to discuss their well-being we can break down walls and urge more people to seek the support they require.

Recognising and understanding the hardships that men endure on a daily basis represents an essential milestone towards building a better society.  Mental health is a huge aspect of well-being, and every single individual deserves consideration, regardless of gender. To move toward a more equitable framework of mental health for all, challenging norms and having difficult conversations are necessary to heal not just the individual but also strengthen relationships and communities.

As we look at cases such as Atul Subhash’s, it becomes clear that a comprehensive approach to men’s mental health is urgently required. Any advocacy for this matter needs to focus firstly on dispelling stereotypes and cultural biases against men seeking treatment. We do have a long way to go, but we can take steps to raise awareness alongside striving to be more compassionate and understanding to those struggling with psychological conditions.

FAQs About Men’s Mental Health

1. Why is there a need to focus specifically on men’s mental health?
Men face unique societal pressures, including the expectation to remain stoic and “strong” at all times. These stereotypes, coupled with the general stigma around mental health, create additional challenges for men to seek help and address their struggles.

2. How do men typically express mental health challenges?
While women often internalise symptoms like sadness or withdrawal, men tend to externalise them. This may manifest as aggression, irritability, or substance abuse, making their struggles harder to recognise through traditional diagnostic tools.

3. Why might traditional therapy not always work for men?
Therapy often focuses on emotional exploration, which may not resonate with many men. Studies show that men prefer action-oriented approaches, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), that focus on practical solutions and problem-solving rather than emotional discussions.

4. Are there specific barriers stopping men from seeking help?
Cultural conditioning teaches men to suppress vulnerability, as it’s often seen as a sign of weakness. Additionally, the perception of psychology as a female-dominated field may create discomfort for some men in seeking professional help.

5. How can we encourage men to address their mental health?
Creating safe spaces for open dialogue, promoting diverse therapeutic approaches, and increasing male representation in mental health professions can make therapy more accessible and relatable for men. Spreading awareness about alternative methods like mindfulness and structured therapy can also help.