3 Myths about Men's Mental Health

Fact: Whilst women are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health issue, this is not necessarily because men are struggling at a lower rate. In fact, men are 4x more likely to die by suicide compared to women (HSE, 2023). This statistic indicates that it’s not necessarily that men are less likely to struggle with their mental health. Instead, it’s likely that men are less likely to seek early intervention and support when they are feeling unwell, potentially leading many men to reach a point of mental health crisis. Indeed, about a third of men said they would wait more than a month to seek mental health support after noticing symptoms, whilst a third said they wouldn’t seek help at all (UK Gov, 2023). It’s vital that we begin to break the stigma surrounding seeking mental health support- early intervention and support can, and does, save lives.

Fact: In a culture that would rather men numb out their feelings with alcohol than cry, it’s understandable why many men turn to alcohol in order to manage mental health symptoms. In fact, men struggle with alcohol-related disorders at nearly twice the rate of women (Office for National Statistics, 2022). Whilst alcohol may alleviate feelings of low mood or anxiety in the short-term, it is actually a depressant for our bodies- meaning that we often feel worse over time. If you are facing mental health challenges, alcohol can significantly increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours. If you are regularly using alcohol as a means to deal with difficult thoughts and emotions, it is worthwhile to see your GP and put in place a support plan of alternative coping strategies. Coping strategies will look different from one person to the next: for one person this might involve lifestyle changes like exercise, for another this might mean stress management strategies or for someone else it may be useful to engage in talking therapies- but finding what works for you is a meaningful first step in supporting positive mental wellbeing.

Fact: Postnatal depression is thought to affect as many as 1 in 10 men (Tommys, UK). Bringing home a new baby can be an incredibly exciting time, but it is also full of big life changes. Factors such as increased responsibility, lifestyle changes, financial pressures, relationship stressors and exhaustion can all increase a man’s risk of experiencing depression within the early months of his child’s life. Whilst we often focus on maternal mental health postnatally, many men experience low mood, intrusive thoughts, anxiety or other depressive symptoms. If you are worried about your mental wellbeing whilst navigating parenthood- you are not alone, help is available and recovery is possible!