Episode #28: A Conversation About Men and Mental Health Part 1
In this episode the X-Podcast Team discusses a myriad of issues related specifically to men and mental health. They make some personal disclosures and also shed light on the common barriers and contributors to modern mental health issues and men. Host Xiomara A. Sosa and co-hosts Lisa and JRoc along with guest Ant get into a lively and relatable discussion on this important modern topic.
This episode mentions suicide. If you’re in crisis, help is available now: Call or text the free, confidential 988 Lifeline at 988.
Men and people who identify as men face challenges because of the expectations and norms specifically to the identity and experience related to masculinity.
Because of the way people expect them to express themselves, they may also find it harder to talk about their feelings or ask for help.
It’s important to remember that gender isn’t binary. However, people who identify as men—regardless of their assigned sex at birth—often face challenges due to norms and expectations around masculinity. In addition, the way people expect boys and men to express themselves can make it harder for them to talk about their feelings and ask for help.
Fewer than half of men with signs of anxiety or depression seek treatment from a mental health professional—and men are likelier than women to use illegal drugs, overdose on substances, and visit the emergency room due to drug use.1, 2 The suicide rate for men is about four times higher than women’s, with men over 65 having the highest overall rate.
In a positive shift, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, more men started engaging with mental health care, especially for challenges related to family and relationships. The number of mental health care visits among men increased about 5.5 times from 2019 to 2020.
How does being a man affect mental health?
Each man’s mental health is shaped by his unique life circumstances, including genetics, family relationships, and experiences with trauma. Physiology, identity, and culture also play a role.
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References
https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/mental-health-and-men-of-color
https://www.edi.nih.gov/blog/communities/mental-health-and-latino-men-breaking-barriers-stigma
SAMHSA. (2023). Mental Health Myths and Facts. SAMHSA. Retrieved July 18, 2023 from https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/myths-and-facts
Berger, M., & Sarnyai, Z. (2015). “More than skin deep”: stress neurobiology and mental health consequences of racial discrimination. Stress, 18(1), 1-10.
Rivera, K. J., Zhang, J. Y., Mohr, D. C., Wescott, A. B., & Pederson, A. B. (2021). A Narrative Review of Mental Illness Stigma Reduction Interventions Among African Americans in The United States. J Ment Health Clin Psychol, 5(2), 20-31.
https://doi.org/10.29245/2578-2959/2021/2.1235
National Center for Health Statistics. (2019). National Health Interview Survey. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),. Retrieved July 18, 2023 from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm
Gómez, J. M. (2015). Microaggressions and the Enduring Mental Health Disparity:Black Americans at Risk for Institutional Betrayal. Journal of Black Psychology, 41(2), 121-143.
Lindsey, M. A., & Marcell, A. V. (2012). “We’re Going Through a Lot of Struggles That People Don’t Even Know About”:The Need to Understand African American Males’ Help-Seeking for Mental Health on Multiple Levels. American Journal of Men's Health, 6(5), 354-364.
Ward, E. C., Wiltshire, J. C., Detry, M. A., & Brown, R. L. (2013). African American men and women's attitude toward mental illness, perceptions of stigma, and preferred coping behaviors.
Nurs Res, 62(3), 185-194. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0b013e31827bf533
Walter E. Wilson Jr., M.D., M.H.A.
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist HealthPoint Family Care, Inc., Covington, KY
Chairperson, APA Council on Minority Mental Health and Health Disparities
Resources
Get help now. If you’re in crisis, help is available 24/7: Call or text the free, confidential 988 Lifeline at 988.
