If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t be afraid to ask for help, also if you’re showing signs and/or symptoms of anything out of the ordinary, seek professional help from a medical team as soon as possible.
How can I support Men’s Mental Health Awareness?
June and November are popular months for supporting men’s mental health ― but the men in your life need you year-round.
Today, it is a well-known fact that we are now discussing mental health more now than we ever have before. More people are becoming more open about their mental health, and we’re all learning better ways to support each other as we should no matter what. After all, we are all humans, and we do make mistakes and for that, we shouldn’t be judged based on what we may think, feel, believe etc. I still believe in some parts that there is still some stereotyping going on based on some situations yet it is getting slowly better with some parts yet still there’s a long way to go to make a difference and/or change.
But people may often underreport men’s mental health, with men not reaching out for the support they need. And that’s where Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month comes in, bringing attention to men’s mental health.
For everything you need to know about Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, from when it is to how to show your support, keep reading. Before, I continue to write this piece for you all some parts of what I am sharing based on my research and findings will be based all over the world for many information, statistics, and facts to cover what I need to cover on some topics I believe is important to me. So, this part of the information I am sharing with you all today is mostly in America.
When is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month?
Mental Health America (MHA) recognizes June as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, as does the International Men’s Health Month website.
But it’s worth remembering that not every country recognizes June as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
For example, November is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. It’s also known as Movember, as men grow mustaches to raise awareness of men’s health conditions. These include mental health conditions but also conditions like prostate and testicular cancer.
What color ribbon do people use to support men’s mental health?
Some people use green ribbons to support men’s mental health each June, but you can wear them throughout the year.
How to Support Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month?
If you’d like to support Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, you could do it in many ways. You might hold an event to raise awareness and money for a mental health charity or organization. You could raise money through a garage sale or bake sale, get people to sponsor you in a race or a competition, or reach out to your workplace or your child’s school to see whether there’s anything they could do to raise awareness.
There are a lot of charities, organizations, and groups out there that do important work around men’s mental health and mental health more generally. Men’s mental health organizations in the United States and abroad include:
MHA, the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness don’t focus solely on men’s mental health but are worth supporting ― and they’re useful resources if you’d like to learn more.
It’s also important to listen to the men in your life if they reach out to you and let them know that you’re there. Of course, this isn’t limited solely to Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month ― men’s mental health remains a big concern throughout the year, not just in June.
You’re not alone
If you’re living with mental health concerns, there are places you can turn to. Speak with a healthcare professional, trusted friend, or family member, or call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Alternatively, you can reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741, calling 1-800-985-5990, or texting “TalkWithUs” to 66746 at the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline.
You can also learn more about finding the right therapist for you.
Understanding men’s mental health concerns
There’s still a stigma around men’s mental health, making it more difficult for men and boys to reach out for help. Some men might still feel as if people expect them to hide their emotions and “man up,” or be strong for others. Having or acknowledging a mental health condition is still seen as a sign of weakness or lack of masculinity among some men.
But mental health conditions aren’t signs of personal weakness ― they’re health conditions just like any other. You wouldn’t feel shame about getting a doctor’s help with a broken arm, and contacting a therapist isn’t different.
The statistics of men’s mental health
The National Institute of Mental Health says mental health conditions are more common among women than men, but this may be because men aren’t opening up and reaching out. And while 51.7% of women with a mental health condition in 2021 received support from mental health services, only 40% of men with a mental health condition did.
Not only that, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source says the suicide rate among males in 2021 was around four times higher than the suicide rate among females. The organization also says men make up almost 80% of all suicides. Men may also be more likely to engage in substance misuse in place of mental health care.
And when men get help, it can sometimes be difficult for them to get the help they need. In the United States and worldwide, mental health care often receives insufficient funding, and people often don’t prioritize it.
Intersectionality and Men’s mental health
While a mental health condition can affect any man, sometimes, the conditions affect men disproportionately. For example, the CDC reports that LGBTQ+ men are more likely to have mental health conditionsTrusted Source than their straight and cis counterparts, while adults with disabilities are almost five times as likely to report frequent mental health distress than adults without disabilities.
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, or BIPOC, men are just as likely to have mental health conditions as white men but have less access to mental health care. They’re more likely to need to rely on community support in place of (rather than in addition to) mental health professionals.
Language matters
You’ll notice that the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of “male” and “female” or “men” and “women.”
Although we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.
Unfortunately, the studies and surveys referenced in this article didn’t report data on, or include, participants who were transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, agender, or genderless.
Takeaway
While Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month is important, we must consider men’s mental health year-round like any health for that matter to be considered. While it’s more acceptable for men to express their emotions and get help than it used to be, it’s still vital that we address the ongoing stigma and stereotyping that men shouldn’t need mental health support and that they shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when they need it.
Talk with the men in your lives, and if you’re experiencing depression, anxiety, anger, or other mental health difficulties, there are many places you can go to for support ― you’re not alone, and it doesn’t make you less of a man.
