Men’s Mental Health

 

Described in various media as a “silent epidemic” and a “sleeper issue that has crept into the minds of millions”with “chilling statistics,”mental illness among men is a public health concern that begs attention. A tragic confluence of low rates of diagnosed depression and high rates of suicide,along with poor engagement with mental health services, highlights the complex intersection of multiple factors that we must grapple with in order to begin helping men overcome the burden of mental illness.

 

 

One issue that affects the identification of mental illness in men relates to how emotional discord might be uniquely expressed by men. Consider the example of depression: Men suffer from depression as women do, yet how that depression is expressed can differ for men. Particularly in the early stages, it often manifests as irritability, anger, hostility, aggressiveness, risk taking, and escaping behaviour. Such expression of feelings, influenced by many contextual factors including gender socialization, can mask more typical symptoms of depression like sadness, crying, feelings of guilt, and changes in appetite.

 

 

Only recently have we started to recognize that these types of signs and symptoms among men can be early indicators of depression. Left undetected and untreated, they can lead men to suffer from immense hopelessness, withdrawal, and a shutdown of normal activity. For this reason, family physicians play an important role in identifying the nuanced manifestations of depression and other mental illness among their male patients. If we speak their language and engage men in a nonthreatening way around mental health, we will be much more effective therapeutic partners with our male patients.

 

 

When is it time to ask for help?
If you’re worried that someone you care about may be struggling, or you think that you yourself need help, to look for these signs that indicate a need for outside assistance:

• Change in mood
• Difference in work performance
• Weight changes
• Sadness, hopelessness, or anhedonia (a loss of pleasure and pulling away from things that used to provide enjoyment)
• Physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomach issues.

 

 

Let’s start today not only by lending an ear to someone’s sorrow or issue could save them but also by taking professional help from a Psychiatrist. There is literally no shame in seeking treatment on mental health. We have heard a few cases regarding famous celebrities,  journalists who have committed suicide despite being in a position on good wealth and fame. It’s a crucial matter amongst young matters and teenagers.

 

Let’s face and conquer this agenda NOW!

 

Priyan Solanki

Go Places Digital Fashion & Lifestyle Brand Ambassador