When treating a patient who is experiencing mental health concerns, it is important to understand and support all of the various aspects of their being. At Cottonwood, in Tucson, Arizona, we recognize that gender identity can have a huge influence on how our clients view mental health and which interventions are most likely to meet their needs. As Men’s Mental Health Month wraps up, we remain dedicated to supporting our male patients in working through barriers that might prevent them from getting the help they need and deserve, the whole year round.
Mental Illness in Men
It is only human to struggle sometimes. Anyone can develop a mental health disorder, especially if they are genetically predisposed to mental illness, experience significant trauma, or engage in substance use. In the United States:
- Men make up a tenth of all patients with bulimia and anorexia
- 6 million men experience depression each year
- More than 3 million men have at least one phobia
- An equal number of men and women have bipolar disorder
- Men make up 90 percent of all patients diagnosed with schizophrenia before age 30
Common Treatment Barriers for Men
Men face unique challenges in getting mental health support. These include:
- Stigma. Mental illness is stigmatized in general, but for men, there is extra stigma to admitting that they are struggling with their mental health. Men are often conditioned to believe that it is unacceptable for them to feel any emotion besides anger. They may fear that they will be perceived as weak or a burden on their families if they say that they are depressed, anxious, afraid, etc.
- Provider responsibilities. Traditionally, men have been taught that their job is to provide for their family’s financial needs. This may cause them to feel guilty if they take time off work to attend therapy or other mental health appointments.
- Unhealthy messages about substances. Men are often encouraged to build up a high tolerance to alcohol and other substances, and they may grow used to utilizing drugs as a coping skill when they are not allowed to show distress in any way besides anger.
- Conditioned to be lonely. While women are often raised to make friends and build close communities, men are frequently not taught these skills. Men often rely on their partners to build and maintain their village, so if they are widowed or go through a divorce, they may find themselves very isolated, which increases their risk for mental illness and substance use disorders and makes it harder to get help.
- Symptoms may vary. When people describe ADHD, they most often think of the symptoms that are most common in boys. This has led to underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis of ADHD in women and girls, who experience ADHD differently. This phenomenon also occurs in men, whose mental health disorders may look different from women with the same condition. Not only might a man not recognize that his symptoms are signs of a mental illness, but trained professionals may be so used to seeing depression, anxiety and other disorders present in ways that are more common among women, that they fail to recognize anger, hostility and irritability as possible signs of depression or anxiety.
Why it Matters
Men make up half of the population. Their untreated mental health conditions impact them, their families, and every stratum of our society. One of the most devastating ripples that can result from men being unable to get mental health support is suicide. Although women are more likely to receive a mental health diagnosis and are more likely to attempt to kill themselves, men are about four times more likely to die by suicide. This is not just because men are less likely to ask for or receive help, but also because when men try to kill themselves, they are far more likely to use a gun, while women often use less lethal means.
How to Get Help
There are many different ways to reach out for mental health support. A few options include:
- Making an appointment with your primary care doctor, so they can rule out medical causes for your symptoms and make a mental health referral if needed.
- Reaching out to the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. This will connect you to a trained crisis counselor, who can help you process what is happening and think through your options.
- Visiting FindTreatment.gov and using the search tool to locate mental health providers near you.
- Contacting your spiritual leader for support, if you belong to a faith community.
Additional Self-Care for Men
In addition to therapy or medications, it is important for people to take steps to look after their own mental well-being by prioritizing self-care. This can be anything that helps a person feel their best, but some common practices recommended by mental health professionals include:
- Staying away from alcohol and drugs
- Developing consistent routines
- Getting plenty of sleep
- Exercising
- Spending time outdoors
- Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet
At Cottonwood, our team uses evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches to addiction and mental health treatment. Each client receives individualized care, designed to meet their unique needs and goals.
