June is Men’s Mental Health Month. While mental health issues can affect anyone, there are certain aspects specific to men that can shape their experiences. Men have unique societal expectations, stigmas, stereotypes, and communication styles, all of which lead to specific mental and physical health concerns. A study from The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry referred to these challenges as a “silent crisis”, explaining that men have higher rates of certain mental health issues like substance use concerns and suicide. Our team compiled this list of resources for men’s mental health in honor of Men’s Mental Health Month.
Men & Mental Health
The American Journal of Men’s Health found that six million men are affected by depression in the United States each year. They also found that men die by suicide at a rate four times higher than women, as well as die significantly more from alcohol-related causes than women. What causes these shocking statistics? It appears to be due to the fact that men are less likely to seek help, more likely to resort to dangerous behaviors, and face unique stigmas and pressures from society on what it means to “be a man.” The National Institute of Mental Health reports that men are less likely to have received treatment for mental health than women in the past year. Perhaps it is time for society to redefine “manhood” and make it easier for men to feel comfortable in expressing themselves. Here are some resources to utilize for support and education on men’s health.
Websites For Men’s Mental Health
- Heads Up Guys: HeadsUp is a website for men that helps to prevent the erosion of men’s mental health and combat suicidal thoughts. This website was started through an anonymous survey in doctors’ offices of men who reported having suicidal thoughts but failed to mention these to their doctors. This website is a great source for men and their loved ones.
- Movember: Movember is a website to help to improve the mental health of men by encouraging them to be fit physically and mentally. This website is a global movement. The areas addressed are mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.
- Man Therapy: ManTherapy is a website that empowers men to address complicated issues like suicidal thoughts, mental health, and uncomfortable emotions. The owner of this website, Dr Rich Mahagony, created ManTherpay to normalize the discussion of emotions through humor. Dr Mahogany is not a real doctor by the way.
- 1 in 6: This is a website for men who have been victims of sexual abuse or assault. Did you know that 1 in 6 men are likely to be a victim of sexual abuse or assault? This is often a difficult topic for men to talk about.
- Men Alive: This blog addresses various mental health concerns that men face such as marital issues, depression, menopause and aging, and masculinity. The goal of Men Alive is to help men to live long and well.
Helpful Books
- What Happened to You by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey: This book by Dr Bruce Perry helps the common person to understand the why behind their behavior patterns. Oprah Winfrey is vulnerable in sharing her own personal experiences and Dr Perry helps to bring words to those various experiences. This book will help men to understand themselves as well as anyone in their life.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear: If you are a man who is interested in changing some bad habits and getting better, this book is for you! This book will help to redefine your idea of progress and make lifelong changes.
- Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett: In a world where boys and men are encouraged to “man up” and not talk about their feelings, Marc Brackett takes his childhood experience of being encouraged to express his feelings and shares this with others. He is the founder of the acronym R.U.L.E.R to help children to identify and understand emotions. In this book, Permission to Feel, Mr Brackett teaches adults how to use the RULER acronym to deal with their feelings as well.
- Cry Like a Man by Jason Wilson: Mr. Wilson shares his own traumatic childhood experiences in this memoir. He attempts to break down the wall of what it means to be masculine and encourage boys and men to heal.
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brenė Brown: Brown is known for her work on shame, vulnerability, and leadership. In this book, she explores the concept of embracing imperfection and living a wholehearted life as she seeks to help readers let go of perfectionism, cultivate self-acceptance, and embrace their authentic selves. This book is great for men looking to learn how to be authentic and let go of perfectionism and the need to be invincible/invulnerable.
Mood Boosting Music
- Happy – Pharrell Williams: This song by Pharrell Williams is the ultimate song to lift your mood on a rough day. The lyrics from the chorus: “Uh, bring me down/ Can’t nothing, bring me down/ My level’s too high to bring me down/ Can’t nothing, bring me down, I said” What can keep you down after you chant these words to yourself?
- Staying Alive – Bee Gees: This oldie but goldie by the Bee Gees helps to normalize the ups and downs of day-to-day life. In the midst of all of the struggles, the Bee Gees reminds men everywhere that they have what it takes to overcome struggles and stay alive!
- Today My Life Begins – Bruno Mars: This song by Bruno Mars reminds men everywhere of the possibility of a new beginning. Yes, life can sometimes be hard but there is still so much to look forward to.
Podcasts For Men’s Mental Health
- Peace and Prosperity with Jason Phillips: This podcast was created by Jason Phillips, a licensed therapist and life coach. This podcast was created to support the listener in identifying how their values and beliefs might be hindering them from obtaining the peace and happiness that they desire to obtain in their life.
- Men’s Mental Health Show: This podcast is based in Australia and helps men to understand their emotions and thoughts. Through the podcast episodes, the listener is encouraged to see vulnerability as a sign of courage, strength, and bravery.
- The Depression Files with Al Levin: Mr Levin is a man who has struggled with depression. In this podcast, he helps to educate those who might know little about mental illness and gives hope to those who are struggling with mental health conditions.
- Not Quite Zen with Tony Hardman: Tony Hardman now only normalizes the discussion of mental health but provides listeners with practical ways to deal with their condition. Tony has struggled with depression and anxiety throughout his life. He shares his various experiences in an effort to give hope to his listening audience. He even has a blog at www.notquitezen.com. Here’s an awesome blog post about 50 ways to improve your mood.
Men’s Mental Health Blogs
- Not Quite Zen: Created by Tony Hardman and offers practical tips on how to take care of your mental health. Mr. Hardman also has a great podcast by the same title.
- Next Gen Men: This blog was created as a solution to help men and boys to feel less pain and to cause less harm. This blog helps to change the discussion of how masculinity is viewed.
- Man Alive Blog: This blog is part of the website that is mentioned above. It has various topics related to men including depression, marital issues, and menopause. It was created to encourage men to not just live long but also well.
Supporting Men’s Mental Health
There is still a significant stigma surrounding mental health, and this can be particularly impactful for men. Societal stereotypes portray men as strong and invulnerable, and many men are taught to try to make themselves that way at an early age, making it challenging for them to acknowledge and address their emotional struggles. The fear of being perceived as weak or inadequate may prevent men from seeking support, leading to a higher likelihood of their mental health issues going undiagnosed or untreated. Men may be more prone to internalizing their feelings, avoiding conversations about their mental health, or resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse or aggression. It is crucial to recognize the unique challenges that men face concerning mental health and work towards creating a supportive environment that encourages open dialogue, challenges societal expectations, and provides targeted resources to address their specific needs. By promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and fostering inclusive support systems, we can help men overcome barriers and prioritize their well-being. While the above list of resources is a great start for supporting men, we must work toward redefining qualities of manhood and encourage men to express themselves and seek help if they need it.
For men who are looking for the support of a counselor to improve their mental health, our team of counselors in Albertville / Boaz, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Jasper, and online are here for you! Contact our office at (256) 239-5662 or online.
For more mental health resources:
References
Affleck, W., Carmichael, V., & Whitley, R. (2018). Men’s Mental Health: Social Determinants and Implications for Services. Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie, 63(9), 581–589. https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743718762388
Chatmon B. N. (2020). Males and Mental Health Stigma. American journal of men’s health, 14(4), 1557988320949322. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988320949322
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Men and Mental Health. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health