Quarantine left people on their phones with easy access to social media apps, and while this can be a negative thing, the amount of traction certain movements have gotten has helped our world. One of these movements includes advocating for mental health and acknowledging and breaking down stigmas associated with mental illnesses. This acknowledgement is vital in helping our world progress; however, half of the world may need a different approach when discussing mental health issues: men. UW Medicine states, “Over 6 million men suffer from depression, and 14.3 percent of men have a form of anxiety disorder.” Although so many men are suffering, discussions around men’s mental health stays stagnant. Why are attitudes different when discussing the mental health of women versus men?
Men are discouraged from sharing their mental health struggles due to social expectations and gender norms. Mental health issues have often been seen as something weak and something that is ‘all in the mind’ and this notion especially affects men when voicing their struggles. This can be attributed to toxic masculinity. The New York Times states, “Toxic masculinity is what can come of teaching boys that they cannot express emotion openly; that they must be ‘tough all the time’: that anything other than that makes them ‘feminine’ or weak.” Vulnerable emotions like sadness, anxiety, and shame are seen as weak, and this stigma can cause men to bury these emotions. Senior Ignacio Garcia states, “I do not feel like I should be sad or crying in front of people, I prefer for that to be done in private.” This mindset can lead men to assume their priority is to ‘tough it out’ instead of seeking help and a diagnosis. Another reason stigma regarding men’s mental health exists is due to fear. Castle Craig says, “Some of this stigma has its roots in fear because mental health problems have been linked in the past to violence and criminality.” Suffering in silence leads to isolation, and without a support system, seeking help becomes even more difficult and can lead to self-destructive behaviors.
Men’s symptoms of poor mental health are different from the way women do. Freshman Jayden Luse says, “Men are usually more angry than sad, but I feel like anger is just sadness because I read a quote that said that all anger comes from a place of hurt.” To appear strong, it is rare that men cry. Instead, more aggressive behaviors are presented. The National Library of Medicine states, “Women tend to have higher rates of internalizing disorders (i.e., men’s depression, anxiety), while men experience more externalizing symptoms (i.e., violence, substance abuse).” Aggressive and more ‘manly’ behaviors like abusing substances and hitting or punching things are seen as normal and just ‘boys being boys.’ Therefore, men are more likely to present their mental health symptoms this way. Another coping mechanism often supported on the internet for men is going to the gym. Going to the gym is an important and healthy activity to do, as it increases endorphins and helps with one’s overall psychological health. However, this activity can become detrimental to men and their health. Gym culture can become toxic as body checking and obsessing over calories can cause disordered eating patterns. As many women have body dysmorphia, men who have a toxic relationship with the gym can have body dysmorphia. The ideal male physique is big and muscular, and attempting to achieve this can become toxic quickly. Eating disorders are mental as well as physical, and the effects they have on the body are extreme. The Washington Post states, “When a growing teen has energy deficits from either not enough caloric intake or too much exercise, they are not getting adequate nutrition to match the energy they are re exerting either through exercise or their baseline metabolic needs.” Just as women face unrealistic beauty standards on social media, men do too. Action figures that are played with from an early age feature six packs and big muscles that build a sense that a muscular body is ideal and what is attractive.
To help break down these stigmas, it is vital for everyone to work on adjusting their views about traditional men and mental illness. The idea that men must be self-sufficient and never weak is extremely detrimental. To break down this outdated notion, it is important to correct one’s own views first. Anytime a man cries or is upset, it is important not to judge or put them down for showing those emotions. Junior Brady Ceteznik states, “When my friends are upset, I try my best to listen and support them instead of offering advice, unless that is what they want.” Sophomore Joaquin Garcia adds, “I am always there for my friends, and I am quick to validate their feelings regardless of their gender.” Being treated with respect and love in times of distress is the bare minimum when supporting someone, and that should not change for men. Another way to help break the stigma of mental illness is to avoid certain vocabulary. Words like ‘psycho’ and ‘crazy’ are insensitive, and labeling someone with these words when they exhibit signs of mental illness only discourages them. Although it may seem miniscule, the way mentally ill people are discussed heavily affects how likely they are to share their struggles. Everyone deserves a stable support system, and that can only happen until outdated gender norms are broken so that men can truly seek the love they deserve.
