Why ‘Acting Like a Man’ Can Be Really Terrible For Your Mental Health

In Australia, suicide is the biggest killer of Australian men aged 15 to 44, more than road death and heart disease. Three times as many men compared to women take their own lives. Globally, 510,000 men die from suicide each year, one every minute, according to this piece in Huffington Post. And yet, it’s hidden in the shadows.

There’s no denying that mental health problems affect men and women of all ages. Research tells us that women suffer higher rates of anxiety and depression. However, mental health outcomes are weighted against men because most dudes don’t handle mental illness well.

Women are more likely to talk about what’s going on and seek help for mental health problems, whereas we men are great at bottling things up and toughing it out.

This is the most significant health issue we face and not taking action can lead you down a very dark path, with devastating results.

Across the world, the facts speak clearly: men aren’t going to the doctor soon enough. They’re not comfortable talking about their health and their feelings. They struggle in silence, or take action too late.

We need to bring attention to the biggest crisis in men’s health. We need to encourage men to talk more with their friends, and find healthy ways to cope with difficult feelings and circumstances.

Conversations really do help men stay mentally healthy and we know there is a close association with suicide and poor mental health. It’s time for men everywhere to break their silence and to recognise the key to overcoming some of the biggest problems is to start talk

Men, it’s okay to talk. And we need to, especially when things get tough.