We Need to Talk About Men's Mental Health Now More Than Ever

Trigger Warning: This article discusses suicide.

Guys, we need to talk!

To this day, there is still a huge stigma surrounding mental health, even though we have many platforms reaching out to help. So, why are we choosing to ignore them?

On Friday 8 June, chef Anthony Bourdain ended his own life, leaving the world shocked and in a state of grief. His own mother even said she never thought he would go this way.

Suicide has nothing to do with how much money you make / how brilliant your are / how "fulfilling" your career is.

It's about managing your mental health: a constant and tedious task for those of us living with mental illness.

— Hannah Hart (@harto) June 8, 2018

Bourdain’s passing occurred just before Men’s Health Week (11 – 17 June), which is all about creating awareness and shedding light on a serious matter that is not visited enough. The week focuses on preventing health problems and helping men treat disease or illness, despite them often being reluctant to speak up about their feelings.

"I honestly believe that speaking out is the brave thing to do," Dr Tim Sharp of The Happiness Institute tells Student Edge.

"By being honest and seeking help when necessary, I can be not just a better man, but also a better husband, father, friend and colleague."

Dr Sharp—a mental health advocate who sometimes goes by 'Dr Happy'—emphasises that the most important thing we can do is talk and be there to listen.

"As we all know, traditional stereotypes of masculinity tend to focus on strength and invulnerability," he says.

"This is never more powerful and important than when men are interacting with other men. In the same way, traditional descriptors of women tend to include characteristics such as 'supportive' and 'caring'; and thankfully, that can make it easier for men to express themselves to women without feeling threatened by other males or like they’re quite so vulnerable."

According to BeyondBlue, "men are at least three times more likely to die by suicide than women," and "death by suicide among Australian males is equivalent to more than 77,581 years of potential life lost."

With this in mind, why is it that the evidence indicates men are far less likely to seek help for mental health conditions than women?

The 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing study found that in the previous year, only 27.5 per cent of males with a mental disorder and recent symptoms had accessed services compared with 40.7 per cent of females.

Most men have grown up thinking that showing emotions is equal to being less of a man. However, times have changed, and it’s now more important than ever to break down this ancient perspective on men’s behaviour.

Dr Tim Sharp tackles these stereotypes and issues surrounding men’s mental health alongside Gus Worland in their podcast Be a Man, which you can check out here.

Are you experiencing suicidal thoughts, sexual assault or domestic and family violence? Seeking to support someone who is? Call Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

Visit ReachOut to get support to help you with everything from everyday issues through to tough times.

Photo: CNN