I Want to Talk About Men's Mental Health

I want to have a disclaimer for this blog in stating that I am fully aware gender is not binary and it is a spectrum, I have worked with the LGBTQIA+ community for years and continue to do so each and every day. For the sake of this article, I will be focused on the binary data of mental health between men and women. Now let’s get into it.

Men’s mental health is something not talked about enough, granted, as a society we are getting better each and every day. I know as a therapist having a “favorite client” is like having a favorite kid, which is frowned upon lol! But I will say, some of my favorite clients to work with are men who have never been in therapy before and they are finally wanting to talk to someone. I can’t tell you how powerful it is to be in session with someone who internalizes or minimizes everything, who then decides they no longer want to do that. The validation they receive from me is unlike anything they’ve ever heard before and I feel beyond humbled to be a part of their journey. Watching them visibly shift when feeling seen, heard, and validating is so rewarding.

In my experience, there is still extreme stigma with men talking about their emotions and seeking help and the men I’ve worked with have said as much as well. Here are some mental health facts related to men. Six million men are affected by depression each year, however, often times, it goes undiagnosed as they often present it as “stress.” If they were to break down each and every thing they are feeling including irritability, worthlessness, hopelessness, anhedonia (loss of interest in things they previously loved) as well as changes in appetite and sleep, it would be blatantly obvious they are suffering from a form of depression. The highest rates of suicide are in Caucasian men over the age of 85. Suicide is the 7th leading cause of death among males and men are four times more likely than women to complete suicide. Gay and bisexual males are more likely than heterosexual males to develop mental health disorders and are at increased risk for suicide, especially prior to the age of 25. Men are less likely to seek treatment than women due to social norms, reluctance to talk and down playing symptoms.

Obviously, these are generalized results based on research and there are always outliers, like my clients who are adamant about their mental health and make it a point to continue with treatment and who are open to making the necessary changes to feel better. Whether that be medication, supplements, skill building, or consistently attending talk therapy. My hope is that the stigma related to men’s mental health continues to lessen therefore creating more safe spaces for men to feel comfortable seeking treatment and openly talking about what they are struggling with versus feeling they need to continue to internalize their emotions and “deal with it" on their own. If you identify as male and are reading this blog, my hope is that you feel seen and feel inspired to take action if you have been silently struggling with your mental health. There are so many providers available to you and I know therapy can make a world of difference. I see you, I want to hear you, and you are worthy of a fulfilling life! And remember, you fucking got this. ~Stef