Men’s Health Awareness and Mental Health
Suicide and mental health impact all of us but affect men in particular at higher rates. Men are less likely to seek mental health treatment than women. As a national leader in the addiction space, American Addiction Centers (AAC) would like to acknowledge International Men’s Health Week. The purpose is to raise awareness of men’s health issues on a global scale, as well as to develop international institutions for the development of services and policies to address the unique needs of boys, men, and their families.
Men’s Mental Health Statistics
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), while rates of mental health disorders like depression and anxiety are higher among women, men who struggle with these issues are far less likely to pursue treatment.1
- One in 10 men experiences anxiety or depression, but only about half will seek any kind of help.1
- In 2021, the rate of suicide was 4 times higher for men than women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).2
- Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for men in the United States, accounting for 2.5% of all deaths during the reporting period.3
- Men are 2-3 times more likely to misuse substances than women.4
Mental Health, Perceptions, Machismo, & Men’s Health
The image that men are expected to uphold is one of strength, invincibility, and power. Any sign of perceived weakness can be wrongfully misconstrued as less than the expected image. There is a false percept that if a men gets help, he’s weak. This, of course, couldn’t be further from the truth. “…[T]here is a disproportionate difference between the number of males experiencing mental health disorders and those seeking treatment. Mental health, particularly among men, has gained momentum in becoming the ‘other’ silent killer,” wrote Benita Chatmon, Assistant Dead for Clinical Nursing Education at LSU Health.5
She continues, “Culture…impacts certain ideas and behaviors and directly relates to the meaning that people attach to their illness. Culture also affects whether people seek help, what type of help they seek, and their coping style and support.” This adherence to rigid societal expectations of machismo, or “male pride,” can have far-reaching consequences.4-7
- Men experience worsening bouts of anxiety and depression.
- 25% of men are less likely to schedule routine medical appointments.
- 1 in 4 men will experience a deadly cardiac event.
- Men are more likely to be dependent on drugs or alcohol, and are more likely to experience an overdose.
Breaking the Stigma Around Men’s Mental Health
Stigma surrounding mental illness creates significant barriers for individuals, preventing them from accessing essential care and support. This discrimination limits help-seeking behaviors, delays treatment, and ultimately worsens health outcomes and increases the risk of death for those struggling with mental health conditions.5
Chatmon writes, “There must be transformation in changing the American culture in which males are more comfortable expressing themselves [and getting the help they deserve].”
The pervasive misperception that only weak men seek help and the impact this has on men’s quality of life is part of the reason why International Men’s Health Week is so important. Letting the public know what issues men are facing enables men to seek help when they need it, rather than suffer in silence. Awareness can change many things, even if the change is small and incremental.
