Despite hurdles on the path to treatment, men are seeking help for their mental health. This is far from a fad. If anything, men have started to realize that it is okay to not feel okay. It is also okay for men to reach out for help with something that has traditionally been kept quiet. In this article, we will look at what men are looking for and learn what a few of them are doing to get the mental health assistance they require.
Avoidance Is Not the Answer
Meet Earnest Davis. He works in healthcare administration and has conditioned himself over the years to shove emotional issues aside. This was a strategy that allowed him to quickly and easily avoid having to deal with whatever was going on in his mind. The 42-year-old explains it this way, “I put them away in a closet and slammed the door shut.” Then, in 2017, Davis found himself unemployed—a victim of downsizing. At that moment, everything started crashing down, so he turned to prayer and meditation, but neither produced the desired results.
“When I had to deal with these two big life challenges (providing for his family and maintaining an active professional life), everything else fell out of that closet.” After hitting rock bottom emotionally in 2019, Davis decided it was time to give professional counseling a try. He admitted to his therapist that he felt broken, and with regular sessions was able to build a system of strategies that helped him deal with his circumstances. Davis feels better now: “I’m in a much better, more balanced place today and know how to deal with my emotions.”
Men Are Seeking Mental Health Care
As societal perceptions shift, an increasing number of men are breaking the silence and seeking mental health care. Recognizing the importance of self-care, men are embracing their emotional well-being and actively addressing mental health issues. With accessible resources like online therapy and support groups, men can conveniently seek professional help from the comfort of their homes. Engaging with the best online language tutor can also contribute positively to mental well-being, as learning a new language fosters cognitive growth and provides a sense of accomplishment. By embracing these avenues, men are taking proactive steps towards better mental health and encouraging others to do the same.
More Men Are Looking for Assistance
According to Gregory Teas, MD, the number of men seeking help is increasing. The psychiatrist and chief medical officer of AMITA’s Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital says men accounted for 30% of his practice. He began practicing forty years ago in Chicago’s northwest suburbs. He now says that figure has ballooned to almost 50%.
Dr. Teas says there is one main reason for this, “There are many more men acknowledging they need help and assessment.” He admits that the pandemic has magnified this considerably. “The last year has brought the biggest surge in outpatient therapy I’ve seen in my career.” All around the country, getting care is easier than ever. Take for example the city of Chicago, where new patients can visit Geode Health mental health locations in the popular Lakeview and West Loop neighborhoods.
There Are Still Roadblocks Keeping Men Away
Probably the biggest roadblock is one the men who need help most have created. That is because men often view mental health issues as a weakness, which is a stigma that is hard to remove. So, for those men, treatment often does not come from a professional therapist or another specialist. Typically, they choose to self-medicate to avoid professional help, and the choices often made in the self-medication arena involve either drugs or alcohol or a combination of both.
According to Marc Browing, PsyD, a clinical psychologist, and director of the Linden Oaks Medical Group Counseling Center, “Men often try to handle things themselves and will their way through challenges.” Choosing to avoid seeking help in dealing with mental health issues can result in many other challenges ranging from job loss and relationship breakdowns to various serious physical health issues and even suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention states that men have a suicide rate of 3.6 times that of women.
Many Men Still Reluctant to Seek Treatment
Although anxiety and depression continue to be the most common issues related to mental illness, it impacts both men and women. However, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, men are still less likely to report they have a mental illness and far less motivated to seek treatment compared to women. Browning adds, “By the time I see men, many have reached a crisis point where they have used up most of their intellectual and interpersonal resources and options.” Or as Earnest Davis said at the start of this article, he felt broken and that would have been his realization that he had reached the end of his rope and could not cope any further.
Men – Watch for the Signs
Men are encouraged to look after themselves, which includes becoming familiar with the signs associated with mental health issues. Some of the signs can be hidden and eventually surface connected to another health issue. For example, anxiety can result in constant worrying and stress, which can develop into abdominal pain, heart palpitations, and headaches. Depression can impact sleep and appetite and produce mood swings and irritability. It can lead to more serious issues such as eating disorders, other unhealthy behavior, and even suicide.
There are other signals to pay attention to including an increase in reckless behavior and a spike in alcohol consumption. Conflict in both professional and personal relationships and disengagement are all signs that may be connected to mental health issues. Browning points out, “We often have personalities that are rather consistent and when the extrovert becomes withdrawn, disconnected, or quiet, or the prudent guy becomes more animated and reckless or is drinking more than normal, there’s often something bigger at play.”
Final Thoughts
Healing begins with acceptance. If today’s man can accept that it is okay to not be okay, this is a good first step. There are going to be days that are filled with disappointments mixed with stress and anxiety. Not all of these become a crisis, but with the proper tools, men can better cope with these issues as they occur rather than locking them away and forgetting about them until something major happens causing them to spill out. As Dr. Teas says, “Seeking help for a mental health issue should not be a source of stigma or shame.” He says it’s a way to get yourself onto a better, healthier path. But it all starts with accepting that things do happen and that they are not always good things.
