Men's Mental Health Month

June is recognized as Men’s Mental Health Month. Mental health awareness has been on full notice in the nation since before the pandemic and heightened, as many were made to stay inside their homes to avoid getting sick. 

Men specifically are less likely to seek mental health services and help because of societal pressures, downplaying their symptoms, and not wanting to discuss their issues. Much may believe having mental health, or any health, issues are a sign of being “weak”. The five major mental health issues affecting men include bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, psychosis and schizophrenia, and eating disorders.

More facts about men’s mental health include:

• “6 million men are affected by depression every year.”
• “Men account for an estimated 10% of patients with anoxemia or bulimia, and about 35% of men also have binge-eating disorders.”
• “2.3 million Americans are affected by bipolar disorder. An equal amount of women and men develop this illness. The age of onset for men is between 16-25 years old.”
• “More than 4 times as many men as women die by suicide in the US. In 2010, a total of 38,364 Americans died by suicide and over three-quarters (79%) of these suicides were men.”
• “There are very high rates of suicide among veterans and gay men. Some have attributed this to the fact that these groups of men may feel (whether it is real or not) rejected by society and mainstream media.”
• “Depression in men often results in irritability, anger, hostility, risk-taking, and escaping behavior. Depression in women is more commonly associated with sadness, crying, feelings of guilt, and changes in appetite.”

Please share this information amongst friends and family in order to help open more lines of dialogue between men’s mental health and hopefully encourage someone to gain the help they need. 

Take care!

Sources:

-https://www.mhanational.org/infographic-mental-health-men

-https://discoverymood.com/blog/national-mens-health-awareness-month/

Photo Source: https://www.unicityhealthcare.com/mens-health-month-bringing-awareness-mens-health-issues-month-june/