What Month Is Men's Mental Health Month

Mike Richins

The month of May is usually the mental health awareness month. This is because mental illness is one of humans' most common health conditions. In fact, one in five Americans will suffer a mental disorder in a given year. But what month is men's mental health month? 

Well, the mental health awareness month for men is in June. The month is dedicated to raising awareness of the different mental health problems men face, their causes, and treatments. Consequently, this helps lessen the stigma that often stops men from getting help.

Wait, there's more! Read on to find out the goal of men's mental health month and the mental issues men face.

What Month Is Men's Mental Health Month?

June is the men's mental month, established in 1992, and the official symbol is a blue ribbon. The goal of men's mental health month is to create awareness of all mental health issues affecting men, including:

• Depression
• Schizophrenia
• Substance abuse
• Anxiety disorders
• Bipolar

Additionally, during this month, you learn about the different signs and symptoms men exhibit when experiencing mental illness. Also, men's mental health month helps emphasize the need to normalize conversations about mental health problems among men.

This is because, unlike women, men are less likely to seek help for mental illness. They tend to downplay their symptoms until it's too late. This is because of reasons such as:

●    Stigma

Many stereotypes and negative attitudes are directed toward men suffering from mental illnesses. For example, society may view men with mental illnesses as weak. This usually discourages men from asking for help.

●    Masculine Norms

These are the social rules or the standards of how men are expected to behave, like, "men don't cry." So, most men fail to seek professional help because they fear their masculinity will diminish.

●    Traditional Beliefs

Some traditional beliefs surrounding men are that they should not express their emotions openly. Unfortunately, when men hold on to these beliefs, this prevents them from getting the support and treatment they need.

●    Poverty

As breadwinners, men are reluctant to get treatment for mental illnesses because of financial problems.

Is Mental Health More Common In Men?

Mental health in men is not as widespread as in women. In fact, women are at least three times more likely to suffer from poor mental health than men.

Even so, mental health issues like antisocial disorders and substance abuse are more prevalent in men than women. On the other hand, more women than men suffer from depression and anxiety.

However, the only reason mental health issues are not more common in men is that they rarely seek help. Therefore, you will discover that only a few cases are reported every year compared to those of women.

What Mental Health Issues Do Men Face?

Men suffer from various mental health disorders, hence the need for coming up with men's mental health month. Some of the common mental health problems men face include the following:

1.     Depression

Although depression is more prevalent in women, men also experience depressive disorders. In fact, 1 in 8 men suffers from depression at some point. If not treated, severe depression leads to suicide among young adults.

2.     Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental condition that affects how you feel, think or behave. Unlike depression, this brain disorder is slightly more common in men. This is because the clinical signs of schizophrenia are more severe in males than females.

3.     Anxiety Disorders

Like depression, anxiety disorders are significantly higher in women than in men. One in five men has this mental condition at some point. You may experience different types of anxiety disorders, including:

• Social anxiety
• Panic disorder
• Phobias
• Generalized or obsessive-compulsive disorder

4.     Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

Men have higher rates of abusing substances, alcohol, and drugs than women. As a man, you are also twice likely to develop a dependence on different substances than a woman.

5.     Bipolar Disorder

This mental disorder affects men and women at roughly equal rates, especially from 18 to 34 years. If you have this disorder, you may experience unusual mood changes and energy levels.

6.     Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Men are more likely to experience various traumatic events throughout their lives. However, the symptoms of PTSD are less common in men than women. This makes it harder to diagnose this disorder and for you to seek help as a man.

What Are The Causes Of These Mental Health Problems In Men?

The causes of mental illness are different for every man. What may cause depression or anxiety in you may not be the same for other men. So, below are some of the common causes:

1.     Death or Divorce

Losing a loved one through divorce, separation, or sudden death can also lead to mental health issues. For some men, these emotions may be too intense to handle, leading to depression.

2.     Financial Stress

Money problems may also adversely affect your energy levels, sleep, and self-esteem. Consequently, you may experience stress and anxiety or fall into depression.

3.     Substance Abuse

Abusing alcohol, drugs, and other substances can harm your overall mental health. Substance abuse can also affect your mental health when done by your parents or loved ones.

4.     Hereditary

Some mental disorders in men, like schizophrenia, result from genetics. So, you are at a higher risk of developing a mental illness if someone in your family has the same.

5.     Previous Traumatic Events

Different traumatic events like bullying, war, sexual abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and natural disasters may cause post-traumatic stress disorder.

6.     Employment Issues

Problems like excessive workloads, discrimination, and job insecurity may contribute to your poor mental health. Besides being at risk of developing depression and anxiety, you may suffer from substance use disorder.

7.     Social Isolation

Social isolation makes you not want to share your feelings with others, leading to loneliness. This increases your risk of mental health problems like substance abuse, anxiety, and depression.

8.     Discrimination

You may develop mental health issues when you experience some form of discrimination or stigma. This happens mainly if you belong to a minority group, have a disability, or are a person of color.

Signs Of Poor Mental Health In Men

So then, how do you tell you are suffering from mental health problems before getting a proper diagnosis from the doctor? Well, this depends on the type of mental illness you have. For example, if you are suffering from depression, you may experience symptoms like:

• Angry outbursts
• Feelings of emptiness or sadness
• Irritability
• Loss of interest in your favorite activities
• Loss of appetite
• Restless sleep or insomnia

On the other hand, if you have bipolar disorder, you may show signs like feeling pessimistic, worthless, sad, and irritable. You may also experience difficulty concentrating, lack of energy, unwanted thoughts, and restlessness. But with schizophrenia, the signs to watch out for include:

• Social isolation
• Hallucinations and paranoia
• Feelings of anger, apathy, and anxiety
• Delusions
• Incoherent speech
• Repetitive movements

But what about anxiety disorders? Besides sweating and trembling, you may experience signs like breathing rapidly, increased heart rate, fatigue, and restlessness.

Other signs and symptoms are headaches, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, irritability, and nausea. And when it comes to substance use disorder, you should watch out for signs like:

• Bloodshot eyes
• Tremors or impaired coordination
• Unusual body or breath odors
• Increased agitation
• Feeling anxious, paranoid, and excessively tired
• Neglecting your loved ones
• Sudden unexplained money problems

What Is The Treatment For Mental Health Problems In Men?

During men's mental health month, you also learn what treatment options for mental illnesses are available. These include:

1.     Medications

Drugs won't cure your mental health problems. They only help ease the symptoms. If you suffer from depression or anxiety, you may be prescribed some anti-depressants. Also available are anti-anxiety drugs, antipsychotic drugs, and mood-stabilizing medicine.

2.     Talk therapy

Talk therapy or psychotherapy involves speaking to a mental health professional about your mental health problems. The treatment can be in many forms, like art and creative therapy or complementary and alternative therapy.

3.     Changes in lifestyle

To recover from mental health issues, you must change your lifestyle. Some common lifestyle changes include limiting or avoiding substance use, exercising, getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet.

4.     Hospitalization

Sometimes, your mental illness may be severe. The best treatment, in this case, is to get admitted to a psychiatric hospital for ease of close monitoring.

5.     Support group

 A support group comprises peers who have suffered similar mental health issues to you. By joining such groups, you receive help from different individuals, promoting faster recovery.

6.     Brain-stimulation therapy

Professionals often use this treatment method when psychotherapy and medications fail to work. The treatment involves directly activating the nerve cells with electricity via electrodes implanted on the scalp or brain. Consequently, this helps improve the symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses.

FAQs

This section will respond to commonly asked queries regarding men's mental health month. Check them out.

What is the most common mental illness in men?

Although men suffer from various mental illnesses, substance abuse disorders are the most common. In 2017, approximately 9.4% of men had a substance use disorder compared to 5.2% of women.

When do mental health problems start in men?

The onset of mental health issues in males usually starts around the mid-teen and mid-20s. In some cases, the problems may begin as early as 11 years of age.

Is November also men's mental health month?

No. November is simply men's health awareness month dedicated to creating alertness to various health issues affecting men. It is also the month for celebrating international men's day.

When is men's mental health day and week?

The men's mental health day is on the 13th of June. Meanwhile, the mental health week is between the 13th and 19th of June.

Conclusion

June is an important month to create awareness about the various mental health problems that affect men. This is because men hardly ever seek help due to masculinity, stigma, and traditional beliefs.

During this month, you learn about the different mental disorders men experience, their causes, signs, and treatment options. This is important because mental illnesses like depression are linked to an increased risk of suicide in men.