June is National Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. For years, June has been a month for learning and raising awareness about the unique challenges men face pertaining to mental health.
Mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, have grown in prevalence as a whole across the United States, but men traditionally deal with an additional stigma surrounding mental health.
This stigma can push fewer men to consider seeking help. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) reports that nearly 1 in 10 men experience some form of anxiety or depression, yet less than half of them seek treatment.
Ben Dockter, MA, of Minnesota-based CARE Counseling says this stigma “arises from both generational messaging and familial upbringing, along with current culture and context. Historically, men have been taught to be stoic and self-reliant, which can hinder them from seeking help.”
Breaking this stigma can happen with a multitude of different things. Dockter says seeing peers and public figures opening up about mental struggles and normalizing seeking can help ease feelings. Having an officially recognized month to raise awareness about mental health can help combat this, as does fostering a community of understanding.
Friends and family can support men’s mental health by learning about it, listening patiently without judgment, and encouraging seeking professional support if necessary.
“For those with fears about opening up, sometimes it can be helpful to start by opening up or reaching out for support about something that feels safer initially and building confidence with sharing more,” says Dockter.
With more men both encouraged to express their feelings and empathize with others, the hope is that fewer mental health concerns will go untreated. Without treatment, relationships could be strained.
Dockter says an individual may withdraw or exhibit changes in behavior, which can lead to misunderstandings, increased stress for loved ones, and a breakdown in communication and connection.
CARE recommends someone seek professional help if persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety or hopelessness interfere with their daily life. This can materialize in having difficulty concentrating or making decisions, withdrawing from friends and activities, changes in sleep or appetite, or thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
Men at the onset of their journeys in manhood, such as recent high school graduates, might face more specific problems.
Young men with plans to attend secondary schooling often move away from home and live on their own with others at their schools. They may leave familiar faces, friends, and ways of life for new ones. Balancing work, study, and leisure becomes critical, and although their new school offers many new opportunities, their new life could come with some new disappointments and failures.
For support in this new world, Dockter recommends staying connected and maintaining relationships with friends and family. Parents and other caregivers in particular can help teach their sons about mental health with open communication. Young men can learn from their caregivers what healthy expression of emotions and coping looks like.
While there are endless possibilities for students to pursue, he also recommends prioritizing activities that promote mental well-being, like exercise and meaningful hobbies. Schools typically offer activities and clubs themselves, but there are also student-led groups.
Dockter described several things college students can think about to help prepare themselves for their new lives: set realistic expectations, build resilience, seek support, and stay flexible.
Setbacks are a natural part of life. Many students will struggle with specific courses or their overall course load. These struggles don’t need to last forever, and they’re normal for college students to experience.
These struggles also don’t just encapsulate academics. Setbacks can occur in every facet of life, from relationships to physical health. Constant linear improvement is not possible, and it’s important to understand how to cope with mental states that may come with these setbacks.
Dockter recommends developing coping strategies like mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and stress management. College students, like everyone, will experience a wide range of emotions. Responding to events with proper emotions is key, even if that is stress. Stress is a normal emotion, but it’s important to be able to handle it without worsening one’s mental state.
College students can find further support on campus in the form of counseling and student groups. Dockter encourages students to proactively talk to a therapist before mental issues arise.
Even with realistic expectations, resilience, and a strong support system– it’s still important to be flexible. Plans and goals can change just as people do. Secondary schooling makes up a small portion of a much larger life, so it’s important not to become entrenched in certain thoughts and feelings.
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