Breaking the Silence: Why Men's Mental Health Is a Growing Global Concern

In recent years, mental health has been a topic that has gained interest across the globe.

 One of the most significant shifts in this conversation is men’s mental health, which has been ignored over the years because of the societal expectations and views about masculinity.

Historically or according to the traditional norms of society, men are expected to display behaviours like strength, resilience, and emotional control, among many others.

Strive to fullfll expectations

The striving to fulfill these expectations is one of the reasons why most men don’t seek mental health guidance, leading to the suffering of conditions like anxiety and depression, among other conditions.

According to the World Health Organisation, the number of suicidal deaths in most parts of the world is higher among men than among women.

This is because of limited or no access to mental health help for men, and there’s also the fear of being judged by society.

Without the proper access to these services, they battle the thought of committing suicide until they end up giving

 Use of social media as a tool

However, due to the rise of social media, the topic has been continuously discussed, and men get opportunities and platforms to express how they are doing mentally. 

The discussion of the topic by even public figures has helped and encouraged most men to open up about their mental health; therefore, they end up getting the help they need.

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November 19 is well known as International Men’s Day, where they get an opportunity to express their feelings and how they are doing mentally.

There is also Men’s Health Week that is held in the week leading up to Father’s Day, which is used to raise awareness on matters affecting men and how to overcome the challenges they are facing.  

This dialogue is not only discussed in social media but also in workplaces and schools, where they encourage men to speak out about their mental health, and they do this by providing mental health counselling offices at work and even in schools. They also hold events that promote mental health for men.

The fight continues

Although the struggle continues due to unlimited access to mental health services, the effort to create awareness about men’s mental health should be continuous to create a comfortable environment where they can speak out.

The rise of men’s mental health is a crucial step to creating a more empathetic society that will help to save many lives.