This week, we're talking about mental health- in men, with men. If you'd like to read our survey with young men around us, click on the link at the bottom of this page.
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In 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) took global mental health statistics, and while numbers have improved, it is sad to see how we as people on this earth stigmatise mental health, and those suffering from mental illness of mental health issues.
When we talk about men's mental health, lots of people think about the fact that men are three times more likely to take their own lives than women. This is true. Suicide kills an average of eight people a day in Australia, six men and two women. However, the majority of male suicides are not primarily linked to a mental health diagnosis, according to the Queensland Suicide Register.
Every 1% increase in unemployment was associated with a 0.79% rise in suicides at ages younger than 65 years in 26 European Union countries between 1970 and 2007. As we know, in familial set-ups across the world, men are the main bread-winners of the family and the unemployment rate affects them more in comparison. [2015, National Centre for Biotechnology Information, USA]
And speaking of younger children, childhood abuse is common among boys and girls; however, some types of abuse are more prevalent in boys than girls (and vice versa). While sexual abuse tends to be more prevalent in girls, physical abuse tends to be higher in boys. Research indicates that boys and girls tend to respond differently to child abuse. Abused girls are more likely to display traditional mental health symptoms such as suicidal ideation and low self-esteem, often leading to self-harm and disordered eating. These symptoms can be identified through conventional mental health assessments, leading to targeted treatment and interventions. In contrast, abused boys are more likely to display a constellation of behaviours that may be less easy to classify psychiatrically, including delinquency, disruptive behaviours, school dropout, binge drinking, and risk taking. Such “externalizing” behaviours are often considered character issues rather than mental health issues. This means that negative thoughts and behaviours in men and boys are frequently labelled as social problems rather than health problems, leading to a punitive instead of a psychiatric response. [2016, National Centre for Biotechnology Information, USA].
Many consider fighting the patriarchy simply a "feminist issue". But having an unbalanced, unequal society has adverse affects for everyone, across all ages, genders and sexualities. In many ways, the prevalence of today's patriarchal society affects the mental health of me.
The societal standards for men are often overlooked because they are not systematically oppressed. However, being born a man, especially in developing countries, has a lot of implications that adversely affect the mental health of the male population.
Showing emotion, a trait which should be viewed as simply human, is considered feminine and therefore, men who express their emotions are considered ‘not manly enough’ and ‘weak’. This has the underlying impression that being ‘feminine’ is a negative thing and that being 'masculine' has to do with suppressing emotions.
The media has a great deal of influence over societal norms- having been derived from those norms. If the portrayal of a group in the general media is problematic, then that view and portrayal must be removed and/or changed. For example, in the media, the representation of men being sexually assaulted is played down to prison rape jokes and congratulating them on "getting laid". Joking about such serious topics desensitizes the trauma a sexual assault/ abuse victim has faced, and discourages them from speaking up about it. People dismiss the seriousness of the situation, thinking that since the man has more physical strength in most cases, if they didn’t want it they wouldn’t be in a position vulnerable to sexual assault. If there is no consent in a sexual situation, it’s sexual assault, regardless of the gender of the victim. Men are often portrayed as predatory [sexual] beings and if they don’t show interest in sex, they are written off as abnormal. This is a serious issue for men on the asexual spectrum as they are constantly told that they just haven’t had a good partner yet and their sexuality is invalidated. This is also a serious issue for men who have been victims of sexual assault as they are simply dismissed with a ‘you probably liked it’.
Domestic violence with men as victims is taken as a comedic trope. In the media, you often see men getting slapped by their abusers and it is laughed off. This is a form of domestic violence and should be taken seriously but is just not given the same importance. Men are also told that they can’t be victims of sexual assault as they're considered physically stronger and 'can fight for themselves if they want'. Any kind of violence acted out on any person of any gender is assault and should be treated as such.
Gender roles are highly prevalent in marital situations and it is seen as ‘normal’ for women to stay at home and take care of household chores and the children if there are any, and for men to be the bread-earners. Dads who are emotionally there for their children or are the homemakers in a relationship while their significant other works are taken as ‘feminine’. It is considered emasculating to be an emotionally well rounded person and not give into gender roles. Men who want to stay at home with their children are looked down upon for not ‘taking care of their family’s needs’.
Ultimately, all these factors and societal norms result in men having unhealthy coping mechanisms such as smoking, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, etc., as any healthy coping mechanisms- speaking out, defying gender roles and societal norms or seeking help- is not approved by society and is considered ‘weak’.
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What should I do if I'm in a conflicting situation regarding my mental health?
Helplines in India:
* Fortis Exam Helpline - +918376804102
The Fortis National Helpline number is for students or parents with queries related to stress, mental wellbeing, exam tips or even to consult a team of experts and behavioural psychologists.
* iCALL - 022-25521111 / ICALL@TISS.EDU
iCall is a service from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), run by trained mental health professionals. iCall provides emotional support, information and referral services to individuals in psycho-social distress, across ages and different gender and sexual identities.
* Sumaitri - 011-23389090 / FEELINGSUICIDAL@SUMAITRI.NET
A crisis intervention centre for the depressed, distressed and suicidal. The Sumaitri helpline provides unconditional and unbiased emotional support to callers, visitors or those who write in.
How can you help those around you?
Give the men you love the love and support they want and need and make sure to listen to them when they need to talk. Encourage them to talk about their feelings and be expressive.
If you notice any negative behavioural changes in them, try talking to them about it. Communicate your problems and encourage them to do the same.
Keep having conversations with the people around you about the negative effects of gender roles.
Keep having conversations with the people around you about the importance of destigmatizing men’s mental health and how the gender of an individual shouldn’t hinder their ability to seek out help when they need it.
And remember, we're always with you!
-JC Team.
Statistic complied by Nritu
Discussion by Shaumee
Compiled by Nikita.
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