June is Men’s Mental Health Month
In the modern world, today, men are groomed to withhold their feelings. It is socially accepted/normal for a man not to show their emotions, let alone talk about them. So, the understanding of the “why” is apparent. The National Institute of Mental Health performed a study and found that men are less likely to talk about their feelings than women. The results of not articulating their emotions can cause some men to cope with their feelings with physical aggression, drugs, or alcohol. The National Institute of Mental health states, “over 75 percent of suicide victims in the United States were men.”
Suicide rates are the highest among the elderly male population of 85 years and older. Not too far behind, numbers are climbing amongst other groups of men with gender disparities and sexual orientation. The five major mental health illnesses affecting men are depression, anxiety, psychosis and schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and eating disorders. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
It is socially healthy to seek help when help is needed. Self Care also includes seeking medical or mental health assistance when necessary. June is Men’s Mental Health Month all month long. If the thought of mental health services never existed, now is the time to think about it and take a step towards a healthier life.
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