Did you know that men are less likely than women to seek professional help for mental health challenges? Consider the following from the Canadian Mental Health Association:
The “code” governing men’s behaviour is one of the prime barriers preventing men from seeking help. According to UK-based MaleHealth.com, men may feel it’s “weak and unmanly to admit to feelings of despair.” Because it’s easier for men to acknowledge physical symptoms, rather than emotional ones, their mental health problems can go undiagnosed.
Beliefs about masculinity also encourage men’s general lack of interest in health issues; many men simply don’t believe they are susceptible to depression, so why bother learning about it? Similarly, risky behaviour, seen especially in younger men – including abuse of alcohol and/or drugs and violence – can mask their emotional problems, both from themselves and their physicians.
In an effort to help combat the barriers that discourage men from seeking help, several agencies (including the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention, the Carson J Spencer Foundation, and Cactus) recently banded together to create Man Therapy, a website designed to encourage men to seek help for any mental health challenges they face.