DEPRESSED AND SILENT? SPEAK UP!

As November is known to be Men’s Health Month, BOSASNET found it fit to discuss issues we neglect to talk about enough: men’s mental health.

Despite the fact that mental illnesses affect both men and women, the prevalence of mental illnesses in men is often lower than women and this may be accounted by reason that men experiencing mental illnesses are less likely to reach out for help or receive any mental health treatment compared to women. This article will also state why this is the case.

Depression among men

Depression is one of the common or rather growing mental illnesses in our country and this includes men being part of the statistics. Male depression is often likely to go undiagnosed because men may feel embarrassed by the idea of having a mental disorder and, therefore, are less likely to seek help. Other reasons why men are less likely to speak up about mental health problems like depression is that they think admitting it makes them weak; they are afraid they will be judged. They don’t want to talk to a professional because they don’t want to share with a stranger. If they talk about it, they may seem like they are a burden, something is wrong with them or they are not men enough. Not only that, but male symptoms differ from female symptoms in that they are not usually the stereotypical feelings of sadness and worthlessness. Instead, men may report increased fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite, problem with the way he sleeps, feels, and thinks. It can also affect his ability to work, go to school, and maintain relationships with friends and family and this can result in lack of proper diagnoses because of how it presents itself. This is more than just mood swings.

Suicide among men

As mentioned before that men are less likely to talk about their mental health, this has resulted in seeking other ways to cope and most of the time through substance abuse and, in worst cases when there seems to be no hope, men tend to commit suicide. For generations, societal roles have pressured men to “man up”. They are encouraged to be tough, and any admittance that you’re not okay is a sign of weakness. Men are not encouraged to speak up at all. It has its roots in childhood, when we’re told that boys don’t cry. These gender roles maintain a stigma around mental health, leaving many men unable to discuss their true feelings when they are struggling or seek professional support and treatment.

Other mental illnesses

Anxiety is also a common mental concern among men, with panic disorders and phobias falling under this umbrella. Bipolar disorder is another common mental illness, psychosis and schizophrenia are surprisingly mostly associated with males.

What can help?

Eating well, and getting plenty of physical activity are important for a man’s mental health. In fact, low testosterone can contribute to depression, stress, and even mood swings. Emotional expression is important as well, and many men feel they cannot express themselves properly because of our cultural and social norms. Seeing that men are more likely to downplay symptoms or to be reluctant to talk about how they are feeling, they may not get the professional help they need. If you or a loved one is showing signs of depression or any other mental disorder, encourage them to seek out a professional for guidance. Don’t be afraid to pursue the help you need or advocate for your own or your loved one’s well-being, especially when mental health is a concern. Good mental health is as important as oxygen. You need it to survive.

BOSASNET offers counselling services to people experiencing problems with substance use, depression, anxiety, stress, anger management and adjustment issues. If you think that you might have a problem mentioned above, or if you have a friend or family member who does, we encourage you to seek help. For some, it can mean the difference between life and death. You can find BOSASNET on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok or call us on 3959119 or 72659891 for more information.t