Men and mental health
Mental health issues affect everyone, men and women. However, the reported prevalence of mental illnesses in men is much lower than for women. Men are much less likely to receive support or treatment for mental health issues than women, however, men are much more likely to die by suicide.
These statistics highlight some of the issues:
Just over three out of four suicides (76%) are by men, and suicide is the largest cause of death for men under the age of 35[1]
Men are nearly three times more likely than women to become alcohol dependent (8.7% for men Vs. 3.3% of women[2]
Men are more likely to use (and die from) illegal drugs[3]
Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women. Only 36% of referrals to IAPT come from men[4]
Men report significantly lower life satisfaction than women in the Government’s national well-being survey – with those aged 45 to 59 reporting the lowest levels of life satisfaction[5]
Stigma
In a 2018 WHO report cultural stigma surrounding mental health was cited as the main barrier for both men and women seeking help and support for mental health issues, but this was much more pronounced for men.[6] Men are much more likely to feel embarrassment or even shame for experiencing mental health issues, internalising a fear that they are weak or somehow a failure. Much of this has come from generations of societal conditioning in the traditional ways boys and young men have been encouraged to be (‘big boys don’t cry’, real men are ‘alpha’ and the common refrain that men should ‘man up’).[7] None of this is helpful, in fact as shown in the statistics above, it is dangerous to encourage men to suppress how they feel. Emotions cannot be supressed down, they find a way to seep out through cracks in our defences. It is important then that these feelings can be expressed, and managed, rather than leaking out in ways that become dysfunctional, even dangerous.
Recognising the signs
Men and women can develop the same mental health issues but may experience different symptoms.
In part, this is due to the different ways that men and women may express themselves.[6] Men can be conditioned to try and hide their feelings, so what spills out may look like anger, aggression or irritability. But under that could well be sadness, fear and anxiety. Possibly due to this holding in of feelings, men may be more likely to experiences their symptoms of poor mental health as physical sensations – racing heart or tight chest, digestive issues, headaches, and so on. In fact, a physical symptom may be the very thing that drives a man to go and see their GP or other healthcare practitioner.
Recognising the signs of mental health issues can be the first step toward getting the right support (and if needed, a prescribed treatment). The earlier that treatment begins, the more effective it can be.
Some common signs of mental distress include:
Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness
Noticeable changes in mood or energy level
Noticeable changes in appetite
Noticeable changes in sleeping habits
Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge
Aches, headaches, digestive problems without a clear cause
Thoughts or behaviours that interfere with work, family, or social life
Unusual thinking or behaviours that concern other people
Increased worry or feeling stressed
Feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions
More obvious and explicit signs of mental health issues include:
Obsessive thinking or compulsive behaviour
Engaging in high-risk activities
Misuse of alcohol and/or drugs
Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
Explicit suicidal thoughts, or fantasies of not existing anymore
What to do
The first step towards getting better is to acknowledge there may be a problem, and to reach out to others. This may feel frightening, overwhelming, or counter intuitive if you feel safer keeping things bottled up. But connecting to others and expressing how you feel will help you start to feel better.
Some of the ways you could begin to get help might be:
Talking to someone you trust, a close friend or family member, maybe even your doctor
Think about why you are finding it uncomfortable asking for help and whether those reasons are actually stopping you from getting the support you need
Reading more about mental health and the varied guidance and advice that is easily accessible (some useful links below)
Find a support group, there are many around the country that are free and open to anyone
Think about your practical coping mechanisms. If you are drinking a lot, comfort eating or resorting to recreational drugs, be honest with yourself about how helpful this is. Instead, the tried and tested methods of looking after yourself in times of poor mental health are regular exercise, connecting to the people you love, and watching your diet to avoid too many anxiety inducing stimulants like caffeine, sugar and alcohol.
Understanding that you are not alone, and many other men are also affected. Finding other’s stories can will help you understand what other men have been through and feel less isolated (some useful links below)
Further information and support:
Men’s Minds Matter
http://www.mensmindsmatter.org/
Men's Minds Matter is a not for profit organisation dedicated to the prevention of suicide through building psychological resilience and emotional strength.
When it comes to thinking about the psychological needs of men we seem to have our heads in the clouds, whistling merrily along as if everything is fine.
Contact Via the website: http://www.mensmindsmatter.org/contact.html
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Calm is leading a movement against male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. CALM has a webchat service, phone line and lots of resources about male specific mental health issues. There are also pages for families and friends with advice on how to help someone you love.
Contact - Helpline: 0808 802 58 58 or webchat via the website
References:
2. https://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB17712/alc-eng-2015-rep.pdf)
5. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/02/middle-aged-people-least-happy-most-anxious-ons-wellbeing-report and ONS: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_431796.pdf
6.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/men-and-depression/index.shtml