How to overcome stereotypes and talk openly about mental health in men
You may have heard that men don't cry, complain or need help. You've probably thought that men are stronger, braver and more independent than women. Maybe you thought men were less susceptible to mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression or stress. But these are all myths that harm men's mental health and prevent men from living full and healthy lives.
Mental health in men is an important and relevant topic that deserves more attention and discussion. Here is why it is good to inform yourself about what psychological problems men face:
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, characterized by prolonged and severe low mood, loss of interest and pleasure in life, low self-esteem, guilt, hopelessness, powerlessness, etc. Depression can be due to a variety of causes such as hormonal imbalances, chronic illness, loss of a loved one, divorce, unemployment, financial problems, etc. According to the World Health Organization, about 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression with men more likely to hide it or deny it than women.
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress, danger or the unknown that prepares us to flee or fight. But when anxiety becomes excessive, frequent or inappropriate, it can become a mental problem that prevents us from functioning normally. Anxiety can take different forms. These include panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and others. Anxiety can be triggered by various factors such as genetics, personality, trauma, stress, conflict, health problems, etc. According to the World Health Organization, about 264 million people worldwide suffer from anxiety, and among them, men are more likely to experience it as somatic symptoms than women.
Men face multiple challenges related to their mental health. Such often go unnoticed, ignored or suppressed. This can lead to serious consequences over their well-being, performance, relationships and health. We suggest you learn now about how to recognize mental health challenges in men and how to overcome them:
One of the main factors that influence mental health in men is social and cultural stereotypes of the male role. These stereotypes create expectations and pressures on the strong half of humanity. They urge them to be strong, courageous, competitive, successful, independent, rational and not to show weakness, emotions or vulnerability. These stereotypes can prevent men from expressing and sharing their feelings, seeking help or support, looking after themselves or admitting they have a problem. This often leads to isolation, self-denial, self-destruction or aggression.
Other mental health challenges men face include stress and burnout (Burnout Syndrome). Stress is the body's response to external or internal factors that pose a threat or challenge in a man. Burnout is a form of chronic stress. Such leads to physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. Men may experience stress and burnout for a variety of reasons, such as work, finances, family, health, conflict, crises, and others. According to a study by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, around 40% of men in Europe are exposed to high levels of stress at work.
Do you know what stigma is?
Stigma is a set of negative attitudes and beliefs that motivate society to fear, reject and discriminate against people with mental health problems. Stigma is not just using the wrong word or action. It is about disrespect. It is about using negative epithets to refer to the person with mental health problems. It is a barrier. Fear of stigma and subsequent discrimination discourages many people and their families from seeking the help they need.
Stigma can be reduced to 2 types:
It is public and self-stigmatization. Public stigma is characterised by harmful attitudes and discriminatory behaviour directed at people with mental health problems as a result of the label they have been given. Self-stigmatisation refers to the internal process whereby people with mental health problems accept and act out the negative stereotypes and beliefs associated with their condition. In doing so, they feel less worthy, competent or capable.
How is stigma formed and maintained?
Stigma is formed and maintained by a variety of factors, such as:
- Ignorance and misunderstanding;
- Fear and avoidance;
- Discrimination and exclusion.
How does stigma affect men?
Stigma affects men in various ways, such as:
- Undermines self-confidence and self-esteem;
- Worsens symptoms and condition;
- Discourages from seeking help or support.
How can stigma be overcome?
To overcome stigma associated with mental health it is necessary to work at three levels: individual, social and institutional. Some of the steps that can help overcome stigma include:
Awareness and education;
Communication and connection;
Advocacy and Action.
According to the World Health Organization, each year, about 800,000 people worldwide have suicidal thoughts. Among them, men are four times more likely to do so than women. Along with this, men are more vulnerable to various mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, addictions and other factors that negatively impact their well-being, performance, relationships and health.
Unfortunately, many men do not receive adequate help or support for their mental health, for a variety of reasons. This leads to poorer quality of life and result in higher mortality rates among the male population.
Therefore, there is a need to raise awareness about men's mental health and bring public focus on it. There is a need to provide effective and affordable solutions to improve and maintain them. One of the organisations that strives to do this is the Pavel Andreev Foundation.
The Pavel Andreev Foundation was established in 2022 by Pavel Andreev himself. The foundation aims to help people in need. In it, every campaign expresses the belief that our society is based on a foundation of kindness, humanity and solidarity. The creators of the platform want to support these values by helping people and animals in need. They believe that we cannot remain indifferent to the problems of others, because these can affect us as a society. That's why the Foundation's team urges everyone to get actively involved by donating or by starting their own charity.
Quickly and easily start your campaign now.
And check out all the campaignshereand support some in need.
How the Pavel Andreev Foundation can help bring men's mental health into the public spotlight:
- The donation platform can shine a light, breaking down the myths and stereotypes surrounding men's mental health. By organising charity campaigns, much can be achieved, including improving men's mental health by showing that regardless of age, profession, social status or culture, anyone can get into difficulty and seek help.
- The launch of a campaign on Pavel Andreev's platform, aims to encourage and relieve the strong half of humanity to talk openly about their feelings, problems and needs, and to seek help or support when such is needed. This can be done by anyone without fear or shame of asking for donations;
- The Foundation can provide information about donating funds, through campaigns with quality and accessible psychological services and programs for men;
- It can support and promote healthy habits and coping strategies for such issues. This is because all kinds of noble causes and charitable purposes are realized through the foundation;
- The Pavel Andreev Foundation collaborates with many NGOs, agencies, has partnerships with others including institutions and experts that deal with men's mental health. This can greatly contribute to everyone supporting initiatives and projects that aim to raise awareness and prevent men's mental health problems.
For more information about the Pavel Andreev Foundation and its activities, you can visit the website at PavelAndreev.ORG, where you can also start your own donation campaign.
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