What Can You Do for Men's Mental Health Awareness Month?

June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, ad with it comes an important opportunity to open a much-needed dialogue around issues impacting millions. While conversations around mental health have grown more mainstream in recent years, men's mental health still carries a heavy burden of stigma, silence, and neglect. Often left untreated, millions of men continue struggling with their mental health despite the opportunity and means for treatment. 

Mental health is a human issue. Unfortunately, society's views of masculinity have shaped how men experience, express, and seek mental health help. We at West Coast Recovery Centers understand these stigmas and acknowledge the benefits of gender-responsive programs for men. To honor Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, we hope to address the lingering stigma. That includes exploring the reasons many men hesitate to seek support, and understanding the real dangers of untreated mental illness and addiction in men. 

The Silent Struggle: Understanding the Stigma Surrounding Men's Mental Health

From a very young age, men are often socialized to “man up” or “be strong.” More often than not, emotional suppression becomes a learned behavior. That's not because men don't feel deeply; rather, it's because they're taught that expressing it and being vulnerable is a sign of weakness. Cultural conditioning like this creates an internalized stigma that makes acknowledging mental health struggles feel like a failure or a threat to a man's masculinity. 

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), men die by suicide more often than women. In 2022 alone, “[M]en died by suicide 3.85 times more than women," and white males "accounted for 68.46% of suicide deaths” that same year. Though some are more susceptible to mental illness, that's not what's going on here. These statistics illustrate the current issues surrounding men's mental health. The combination of societal expectations and a lack of open dialogue about men's emotional well-being has contributed to this. 

When Do Men Hesitate to Seek Help?

Furthermore, the already present stigma is often reinforced by the way mental health is portrayed in media, workplaces, and even healthcare systems. This presents many reasons men avoid seeking mental health help. 

Fear of Judgment

For starters, men fear being seen as weak or incapable if they admit to needing help. In competitive environments, like the workplace, a sports team, or a social situation, there's a deep-rooted worry about how this vulnerability will be perceived. 

Lack of Emotional Literacy

Another reason men might not seek help is because of a genuine lack of emotional literacy. It's hard to expect when to have emotional literacy when society so often discourages emotional expression in boys and. young men. For that reason, many men grow up without the tools to recognize and articulate feelings.

Cultural and Societal Pressures

Additionally, many are often expected by cultures or societies to be providers and protectors. Asking for help might feel like relinquishing that role. Instead, we need to challenge this by asking why men can't do both. Why can't men be protectors and providers, but still need a helping hand from time to time? Dialogue around these can help change cultural and societal pressures and create safe spaces where men can feel comfortable seeking help. 

Limited Access to Male-Friendly Resources

Another reason men may not seek help is that they can't access male-friendly resources. If services don't feel approachable or relevant to men's experiences, they're less likely to engage. Further, traditional talk therapy may feel uncomfortable for men who aren't accustomed to discussing emotions in a structured setting. Offering more services that accommodate an individual man's comforts may cause more men to feel comfortable seeking help. 

The Dangers of Staying Silent

As mentioned, if left untreated, mental health challenges in men can become more problematic. For example, many might turn to substance use as a way to self-medicate. Substance use and addictive behaviors may temporarily mask the emotional pain, but can quickly lead to dependence. 

Men may also develop physical health concerns if they don't address their mental health needs. Chronic stress, depression, and anxiety, just to name a few, can take quite a toll on the body. Men may begin experiencing heart disease, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and other physical complications. 

How Can We Support Men's Mental Health?

With all this in mind, what's most important is to open the dialogue and figure out how we can better support men's mental health. Change is possible, but it does take time, awareness, education, and perhaps most importantly, compassion. By normalizing emotional conversations among men, promoting male-friendly mental health resources, encouraging preventive care, and highlighting the strength it takes to seek help, we can hopefully start to make and see the changes in society today. 

It's not uncommon for men to feel like they have to face their battles alone. However, that couldn't be further from the truth. West Coast Recovery Centers is dedicated to helping you heal from the pain of mental illness and addiction. Call us today to learn how our gender specific treatment programs can address your unique experiences as a man struggling with mental health today. 

Men's Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a reminder that silence, stigmatization, and untreated mental health concerns among men can be problematic and even deadly. By fostering understanding and building a culture of support, we can, hopefully, begin creating a world where men feel safe, seen, and empowered to get the help they need. No one should have to struggle alone and in silence, and no one should have to walk the path of healing on their own. If you or a man you love is struggling, please know that help is available. Let's keep the conversation going, not just his month, but all year long, and call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509 for help today.