In the patriarchal society when a man is a boy, they are subconsciously provided with the notions of manhood like “boys don't cry”. Mental health of men is a disregarded health concern. Men experience mental health issues differently than women due to different factors and triggers. The definition set in the society of “being a man” doesn’t allow them to feel the full spectrum of emotions. The societal expectations and gender norms lead them to think they must be the breadwinners of the family, displaying “masculine” traits of strength and control which causes them to not speak of their emotions openly, hence, not seeking help when they are cracking under pressure, these unrealistic and unattainable norms can lead to increased risk of stress and depression, can negatively affect their physical health and be detrimental to their mental well-being.
Though this is not true all the time girls are twice as likely to access formal support for emotional and behavioral problems than boys because men are constantly conditioned from early childhood to repress their emotions which makes them reluctant to talk about what they feel and downplay their symptoms, they minimize their depressive symptoms keeping alive the belief that women tend to be more predisposed to depression. Symptoms such as risk taking, irritability, increase in loss of control, aggressive, obsessive or compulsive behaviors are more common in men than in women when they might be suffering from mental health problems, if we can spot these warning signs in our loved ones, we can prevent the symptoms from becoming more severe by treating mental health issues in the early stages.
On average, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some point in their life. When there is an absence of treatment of any mental health disorder, it can have serious ramifications for men, untreated mental illness can cause consequences such as self-medication with drugs and alcohol. Mental health professionals also want people to know that quite often alcohol dependence in men is less about self-control and more about an underlying mental health issue like depression. In India, suicide rates are significantly higher for men. “India does not simply have a mental health challenge… it is facing a possible mental health epidemic,” President Ram Nath Kovind had said in 2017 .
Some lesser-known reasons for why men won't talk about mental health are that awareness strategies aren't targeted well to men which might cause them to feel vulnerable discussing mental health, men ask for help differently and express mental health problems differently, leading to mis- or under-diagnosis.
In general, men tend to put off getting any kind of support because they might think they are supposed to stay tough, take charge of any situation and be self-reliant. It can make it hard for them to acknowledge their health issues and their social-economic well-being. Research suggests that support of loved ones can significantly affect a person's recovery and people with suicidal thoughts choose to not act on them because of the support of their friends and family. Be empathetic and kind towards those with mental illnesses. It is unhelpful to ask a person with mental illness to "snap out of it", to avoid them and advise them to be busy or get out more. Lifestyle changes, psychological treatment such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and antidepressants prescribed by a medical professional might be effective to reduce anxiety and depression. Some tips for men trying to cope with anxiety and depression are to look after their health by eating well, exercise and getting at least 8 hours of sleep. There can be a significant increase in well-being by staying active, talking to a mate and making time for activities and hobbies they enjoy. For long term solutions getting a health professional is important.
If you or someone you know needs support for their mental health, it may be time to talk to a doctor or a health professional to get effective treatment. In this progressive decade, men are more aware about mental well-being. At present, while the crisis is amplified due to a global pandemic, men are seen to reach out for help which shows a positive development in the direction of addressing mental health issues in India.
Written by- Tanvi Kalsi
Edited by- Sheen Misra
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