By Ally Travers
37.4% of men in the United States have mental health issues. Are you a part of the
37.4%? If you are, you are statistically less likely to speak up because in society, men’s mental health is often overlooked, ignored, and dismissed. Those who speak up about it are often told to “man up” or “be a man” instead of being supported for sharing their struggles. In the US, nearly “1 in 10 men experience some form of depression/anxiety, but less than half are seek treatment,” according to MindWise.org.
Men should be encouraged to speak up, not “man up.” It is completely unacceptable that
there is little to no talk surrounding men’s mental health. The stigma that, over time, society has created is unacceptable. There needs to be more talk surrounding men’s mental health; it needs to change--starting right now. In a 2020 study, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention found that “men died by suicide 3.88 times more than women.” In addition, the study found that “white males accounted for 69.68% of suicide deaths in 2020.” The fact that men are less likely to speak up might contribute to the high suicide rates.
There are a wide variety of accessible resources for everyone, including men, to get
help. Some online resources are The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s free hotline, and many others. In addition, some things that you can do on your own to help improve your mental health include exercising, journaling, talking to someone, and getting the correct amount of sleep. Men should not be afraid to speak up if they struggle with mental health issues. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and strength to speak up. Speak up; don’t “man” up.