Men’s mental health struggles are constantly being overlooked and going undiagnosed. It is not a topic that is talked about or shed light upon.
But why? Well, there has been a stigma behind men and feeling weak. Due to societal norms, men don’t speak up about their health issues, and are more likely to downplay their symptoms. This causes an increase of physical health problems and overall, an unhappy lifestyle. People aren’t aware of how mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, can affect one's life. Being diagnosed with a mental disorder can be seen as “weak” or that there's something wrong with you. However, more people suffer from these ‘invisible diseases’ than one would know.
19.1 million American Adults suffer from an anxiety disorder. The leading cause of disability in the U.S. is Major Depressive Disorder for ages 15 to 45.
Under the statistics falls celebrities as well. It may seem like your favorite musician or athlete doesn’t suffer from mental health struggles, but they are human just like you. Earl Campbell, former football professional and Hall of Fame running back was diagnosed with panic and anxiety disorder in 1989. Keyon Dooling, former NBA player, suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to years of repressed memories of sexual abuse as a child. He hit his lowest point in 2012 leading him to begin his recovery process, and has now become an advocate for sexual abuse victims. It is not uncommon to see athletes end their professional careers to focus on their mental health Larry Sanders, for example, left the NBA at the age of 26 to spend more time addressing his mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Sanders made the decision to leave behind his passion for basketball inorder to focus on himself and his well-being.
While it may seem like you are the only person who feels this way, you are not alone. This is something that is more common than not, and it is a topic that needs to be talked about more. June 14th - 20th is Men’s Health week, a week dedicated to increase awareness of health issues in males.
Before we enter into July, we would like to share a few statistics and resources regarding men's mental health.
6 million males suffer from depression, and are more likely to report irritability, fatigue and loss of interest in work rather than sadness and worthlessness.
Males suicides have been on the rise since 2000, and are now the 7th leading cause of death amongst males
Over fours times as many men than women take their own life
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. 1 (800) 273 8255
Men’s Health Resource Center:Mental Health & Well-being
Men’s Health Network
Face It Foundation
Mantherapy
Cover image is from https://mforum.com.au/mens-mental-health-the-silent-epidemic/