Men, Your Mental Health Matters Too

Jun 30

*Expression & vulnerability should never make you feel emasculated.*

In honor of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, ASW Inspires aims to shed light on the overlooked complications that men face on a daily basis. All misandry, gender wars, & social media discourse aside, men deserve safe spaces filled with open-ears and open-arms.

Patriarchy is typically condemned due to its negative impacts on women. However, the same system that was created to lift men up, ultimately tears them down once they show the slightest bit of vulnerability. Men are expected to always be strong, never show too much emotion, and remain boxed in by traditional gender roles. While there is nothing wrong with preferring tradition, we must acknowledge the toxicity that lies amongst these values.

According to the American Journal of Men’s Health, “Men are thought to be deterred from engaging in mental health services due to socialization into traditional masculine gender roles. Traits associated with traditional masculinity include stereotypes of stoicism, invulnerability, and self-reliance, which are frequently discussed as they do not fit comfortably with psychological help-seeking.”

The tendency to rely solely on oneself is what leads to the heartbreaking statistics we see floating around social media. Examples of these stats are:

While men make up around 50% of the U.S. population, they comprise nearly 80% of suicides. (Healthline)
The suicide rate among males was 4 times higher (22.8 per 100,000) than among females (5.7 per 100,000) (NIMH).
Over 6 million men suffer from depression per year, but male depression often goes underdiagnosed. (NIMH).

More people need to understand that it is okay for men to break down, ask for support, cry, and experience vulnerability. None of these things make them “less of a man,” and that mindset is detrimental. Although Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month has come to an end, you deserve to feel seen everyday.