The silent struggles of men’s mental health and suicide prevention
· News-MedicalGlobally, the month of November is associated with campaigns to raise awareness and encourage conversation around men's health, particularly on topics such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
Although mental health conditions can affect anyone, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under the age of 50 in the UK, accounting for three-quarters of all deaths by suicide.
Abhijit Nadkarni, NIHR Professor of Global Health Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)The most effective way we can address these issues is by making psychological services more accessible and adopting collaborative care models tailored to men's needs. Non-stigmatising platforms of care, such as community support groups, can facilitate access to treatment by providing safe spaces for men to address mental distress."
Petra Gronholm, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Global Mental Health at LSHTM, said: "Men's mental health struggles often go unrecognized or undiagnosed, as they are much less likely than women to open up to those around them about how they're feeling or to seek help.
"We know that stereotypes around women's looks and behaviour are extremely damaging and it's important to recognise that stereotypes also affects men. Mental health stigma and societal expectations of masculinity both attribute to why men may be more likely to suffer in silence. Traditional gender roles, toxic masculinity, and skewed expectations around how men should display emotion often lead to a fear of being judged or appearing weak. It is completely incorrect to assume that men do not struggle with their mental health as much, simply because they are often portrayed, or expected, to be 'strong'.
"As men are typically less likely to ask for help they may, in turn, be more likely to use harmful coping methods instead, such as drugs or alcohol, or use escapist behaviours, such as fixating on work or hobbies. This can then mean that early indicators are potentially suppressed for longer periods of time before help is sought. For example, men are more likely than women to be detained under the Mental Health Act in the UK; a requirement to stay in a hospital for treatment or assessment due to risk to self or others from an urgent mental health concern.
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