The silent battle of men’s mental health and suicide prevention

Globally, the month of November is associated with campaigns to raise awareness and encourage conversations about men’s health, especially on topics such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

In Britain, around 1 in 4 adults will experience a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year and current figures for 2024 suggest that 1 in 7 rate their mental health as poor, or the worst ever.

Although mental illness can affect anyone, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 in Britain, accounting for three-quarters of all suicide deaths.

Men are less likely than women to have access to psychological therapies; they represent only just over a third of referrals for talking therapies from the UK National Health Service (NHS). Compared to women, men in Britain are also more likely to go missing and make up almost 90% of rough sleepers.

Depression affects men in unique ways, which has significant implications for diagnosis and treatment.

While women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, men are up to three times more likely to die by suicide in the UK alone. The differences between depression diagnoses in men and women may be partly due to social stigma, which has been shown to reduce help-seeking behavior among men.

Men living in deprived areas are also significantly more likely to experience depression than men in non-deprived areas, highlighting the impact of environmental factors.

The most effective way we can address these issues is by making psychological services more accessible and by implementing collaborative care models that are tailored to men’s needs. Non-stigmatizing healthcare platforms, such as community support groups, can facilitate access to treatment by providing safe spaces for men to address mental health issues.”

Abhijit Nadkarni, NIHR Professor of Global Health Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)

Petra Gronholm, assistant professor at the Center for Global Mental Health at LSHTM, said: “Men’s mental health problems often go unrecognized or undiagnosed because women are much less likely to open up to those around them about how they feel or how they feel. to seek help.

“We know that stereotypes around women’s appearance and behavior are extremely harmful and it is important to recognize that stereotypes affect men too. Mental health stigma and societal expectations of masculinity both contribute to why men are more likely to suffer in silence. Traditional gender roles, toxic masculinity and skewed expectations about how men should show emotions often lead to a fear of being judged or appearing weak while expecting to be ‘strong’.

“Since men are typically less likely to ask for help, they are more likely to instead use harmful coping methods, such as drugs or alcohol, or engage in escapist behaviors, such as fixating on work or hobbies. This could then mean that early indicators may are suppressed for a longer period of time before seeking help. For example, men are more likely than women to be detained under the Mental Health Act in Britain because they need to stay in hospital for treatment or assessment of risk to themselves or others due to this. an urgent mental health problem.

“While monthly campaigns remain extremely important in raising awareness and encouraging conversations about topics often seen as ‘taboo’, it is crucial that conversations about physical and mental health happen year-round. If you are facing challenges with your mental health, remember that you are not alone. It may seem like talking about it is a sign of weakness, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“A good first step is to learn more about mental health issues through online resources, such as the World Health Organization’s toolkit to end stigma, or explore local services. Contact a trusted friend or family member to tell you how you feel can also be an important step forward.”