Men and mental health is not a topic that is spoken about much or even a topic that is shed light upon in society. As per stereotypical gender roles, men are individuals who aren’t allowed to portray feelings and emotions for that makes them weak. And it is believed that no man is supposed to be weak. Therefore, the idea that men experience mental health issues is unacceptable by society.
But both men and women experience mental health problems and difficulties, but the factors that influence these issues and the causes tend to differ between the two genders.
Mental health issues affect men and women differently. Where women are more likely to experience mental health conditions, men are more likely to attempt the act of suicide. And studies show that men are 3.5 times more likely to die from suicide than women. That is because they choose more lethal weapons like guns and other firearms.
The trigger point for men is very different as compared to the trigger point for women. Some trigger points for men are:
* The idea and need to be the breadwinner of the family
* The need to be independent, and not to seek help from others
* The need to display traits of strength and control and be masculine
* Not to speak openly about emotions
If a man holds these kinds of traditional ideologies, it can negatively impact their mental health.
Here is a list of the most common mental health issues faced by men:
1. Depression- Depression is a persistently low mood that interferes with everyday functioning. Depression is the most common mental health condition faced worldwide. Even though depression is two times more commonly found in women than men, men are not likely to seek treatment for it.
2. Anxiety disorders- Anxiety is an intense and uncontrollable feeling of fear and or worry. The most common type is a generalized anxiety disorder that comes along with depression. Social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder are common in both men and women, but again men are less likely to seek treatment as compared to women.
3. Schizophrenia- Schizophrenia is a mental health condition where individuals are unable to interpret reality. They experience hallucinations, delusions, and other thinking disorders. This illness significantly hampers the quality of life.
4. Substance Abuse- Studies show that men have higher rates of using and depending upon illegal drugs and alcohol than women. They are more likely to seek medical attention due to overdose on these kinds of illnesses. A study also shows that more men die annually of alcohol-related illnesses than women.
5. PTSD- PTSD is a condition where the symptoms are where an individual relives a traumatic experience and feel avoidance and hyperarousal. Studies show that 60% of men suffer from one traumatic episode or even in their lives. More men suffer from PTSD than women.
The above 5 examples are just a few mental health issues a man faces. While we do tend to focus on how society treats women, it’s time we realize that society illtreats men as well.
By forcing men to ignore how they feel, and not accepting them for who they are, we are causing more harm than good. It’s time to normalize men’s mental health and put across the message of, “It’s okay not to be okay.”
If you would like to have a chat on the above topic, feel free to drop a comment in the box below and we’ll have a conversation.
Read our blog on the most common mental health issues women face here.
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Originally published at https://www.fuzia.com.