Why We Need to Talk About Men’s Mental Health

Mental health challenges don’t discriminate. They affect people from all walks of life. But for many men, reaching out for help can feel like going against everything they’ve been taught about strength.

From a young age, boys hear things like:

“Man up.”
“Don’t be soft.”
“Real men don’t cry.”

These phrases might seem harmless, but they send a strong message: that strength means silence, and emotions are weakness.

So it’s no surprise that when men start to struggle — with stress, depression, burnout or trauma — their first instinct is often to hide it, suppress it, or handle it themselves.

But here’s the truth: The pressure to “tough it out” can become a silent killer.

Suicide Rates: Men are at significantly higher risk of suicide than women. Globally, men make up nearly 75% of suicide deaths.

Help-Seeking: Only about 1 in 3 men experiencing mental health challenges reach out for support.

Substance Use: Men are more likely to use alcohol or drugs to numb emotional pain — often without even realising it’s a form of coping.

“Men aren’t less emotional. They’ve just been taught to express it differently, or not at all.”

Tom is a father of three and the “go-to guy” in his circle. When he started feeling depressed, he kept it to himself. He thought, “I have to hold everything together.”

“Reaching out felt like admitting failure,” he said.

Eventually, after gentle encouragement from his wife, Tom spoke to a therapist. That decision changed everything.

“Admitting I was struggling was hard,” he says.
“But it’s the best thing I’ve ever done — for myself and my family.”

Tom’s story is one of many. And it reminds us that asking for help is not weakness. It’s strength in action.

How We Can Support Men’s Mental Health

This isn’t just a job for mental health professionals — it’s a responsibility we all share. Here are some practical ways we can help shift the culture:

1. Encourage Honest Conversations

“The more we talk about mental health, the less shame there is.”

We need to make emotional honesty normal, at work, at home, in friendships, and in faith communities. Awareness campaigns like R U OK? Day and Movember are powerful, but these conversations must continue beyond set dates.

2. Make Support Feel Accessible

Men often feel uncomfortable in traditional therapy settings.
Accessible options like:

• Online therapy

• Anonymous helplines

• Workplace Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)

• Mental health check-ins at community centres or gyms can make a world of difference.

• “Let’s make getting help as normal as getting a check-up.”

3. Promote Healthier Coping Tools

Men are often taught to bottle things up or drown them out. But there are better ways to cope.

Encouraging movement, team sports, walking groups, or any kind of physical activity that builds connection is key. It meets men where they are and opens up space for vulnerability without pressure.

“Connection doesn’t always start with conversation. Sometimes it starts with shared movement.”

4. Build Peer and Community-Based Support

Groups like Men’s Sheds and online communities such as HeadsUpGuys offer safe, informal environments where men can share what they’re facing, no pressure, no stigma.

Sometimes, it’s easier to open up with people who’ve walked a similar road.

5. Teach Emotional Health to the Next Generation

If we want long-term change, we have to start early.

Let’s raise boys who know:

• That emotions aren’t shameful

• That talking is strong

• That asking for help is normal

“Emotionally healthy boys grow into emotionally available men.”

The cultural pressures that discourage men from addressing mental health challenges have been around for generations, but change is beginning to happen. As we continue to raise awareness, encourage open conversations, and create supportive spaces, we can help men feel empowered to express their vulnerability and ask for help.

When men feel that it’s okay to talk about what’s going on for them, they not only build their own resilience but also contribute to a society that values mental health for everyone. By breaking down these barriers, we’re creating a future where mental health is prioritised and supported, no matter who you are.