As you may know, June is Men’s Mental Health Month- a time to raise awareness for the mental health issues men face every day. Over the past decade, conversations related to mental health have become more widespread and accepted. Yet, statistics show that there are very low rates of diagnosed mental health illness amongst men but very high suicide rates. In the U.S. 75% of suicides are committed by men. One person dies of suicide every 11 minutes in this country. Yet men are often less likely to seek help or treatment for mental health issues like depression because they are more reluctant to share their feelings or minimize their symptoms, often due to societal norms and pressures.
Historically, men have been proclaimed as the breadwinners of their families, and have linked their self-worth and identity to that title. When things go wrong financially, men often feel that this decreases their worth, and it can lead to anxiety, substance abuse, and depression. Men are often not encouraged to talk about their feelings and mental health. They are told to “man up” when they are vulnerable, so it is no wonder they build walls and deal with feelings of depression on their own. We as a society need to do better for our men. We need to provide them the support they need to feel safe to share their struggles with mental health and seek help. In honor of men’s mental health month, let’s look at what we can do to support our men, not just this month, but every day.
1. Learn and understand the symptoms of different mental health disorders so that you can detect them.
Take depression for example: although symptoms vary from one person to another, common symptoms include sadness, angry outbursts and irritability (especially over small things), changes in appetite, changes in sleeping habits (either insomnia or sleeping too much), loss of interest in things they used to love, and trouble thinking or making decisions. Pay attention to weird changes in the men in your life and do your research to understand what they may be going through.
2. Provide support.
If you know of a man struggling with his mental health, show him that you are here to help him through. Be a listening, judgment-free ear to him. Don’t try to fix him or the situation but truly listen to how he feels without judging. Provide positive reinforcement and make sure he knows he is loved and cared for. Offer your help for whatever he may need, whether that is fostering a stress-free environment or helping him seek professional help. Find helpful resources for him and encourage him to practice healthy habits. Showing up for people, not just when they ask for it but on a consistent basis can make a world of difference.
3. Encourage men to practice self-love and self-care
Everyone experiences stress in their lives, yet self-love and self-care are often more geared towards women than men. Encourage the men in your life to manage their stress levels and do the things they enjoy. Encourage them to spend time with and do nice things for themselves. Schedule spa treatments and other relaxing activities for them. They deserve to be pampered too, and self-love and self-care are imperative to everyone’s mental health.
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