In 2025, mental health is still a big issue, with many men struggling with multiple mental issues. They often keep their struggles to themselves because of social pressures and stigma. Due to this reason, men are less likely to seek help as they will get judged. To close this issue, it's important to break these barriers by honouring the men's mental health month.
This occasion marks an opportunity to raise awareness about mental issues among men. It also encourages men to take care of their well-being, just like their physical health. In other words, it's a reminder for men to prioritise their feelings and know that it’s okay to seek help. Let's explore more about this.
What is men's mental health month?
Men's Mental Health Month is a time to raise awareness of mental health issues in men. The purpose of this month is to encourage men to talk about their health and seek help if needed. The time to celebrate this event is different in each country. However, November marks the mental health awareness month for men in the UK. In short, this is the time to break the stigmas that men can express their feelings and get help.
This special month usually connects to special days like International Men's Day and Movember. International Men's Day, which happens on November 19, is all about celebrating what men do for society. The month also encourages men to get help if they need it and not to keep their struggles to themselves. Meanwhile, Movember helps raise awareness for things like suicide prevention and health issues such as prostate and testicular cancer. Overall, this month is a time to focus on both physical and mental health for men.
The importance of men's mental health month
Mental health problems are a growing issue for men in the UK. A study shows that 13.2% of men experience common mental health problems. In addition to that, almost 75% of men were committing suicide in 2023. These facts highlight the need to focus on men's mental issues and provide support to help them cope. Thus, here are the reasons why Men's Mental Health Month is important:
- Raising awareness: Men's Mental Health Month highlights the mental health challenges that men face. This helps to bring attention to an often under-discussed issue.
- Breaking the stigma: Societal expectations often make men feel like they need to "tough it out". This can result in men being too afraid to seek help. Therefore, celebrating this month helps to break the stigma.
- Prioritising mental health: Men need to be aware of their health, both physical and mental health. This month encourages them to take care of their mental well-being as well as their physical health.
- Encouraging early help: Raising knowledge of mental health helps men recognise their problems early. As a result, they can get support faster and feel better sooner.
Men's Mental Health Month helps create safe spaces for men to talk about their emotions and struggles. This is because men are taught to keep those issues private. In addition to that, celebrating this month helps people understand that men can also struggle with their well-being. The month highlights the importance of supporting men at every age. Ultimately, it allows men to improve their wellness.
Stigmas around men's mental health month
Societal norms and expectations are the cause of stigmas around men's mental health. For generations, society taught men to hide their emotions. Society has passed down phrases like "man up" or "boys don't cry" as part of the cultural narrative. These messages discourage men from showing their feelings or seeking help when they face emotional struggles. As a result, it creates a barrier for men who may be struggling with their mental health.
For those reasons, it is crucial to address this stigma head-on. Society needs to create a safe space where men feel comfortable discussing their mental health and seeking support. Let's explore those stigmas!
Fear of being weak
The first stigma around Men’s Mental Health Month is the fear of being weak. Men are often taught from a young age that expressing vulnerability is a sign of weakness. Phrases like "men don't cry" or "men up" made them think that they're failures if they seek help. In fact, this creates an internal conflict in that they must hide their problems and act tough in front of people. As a result, this can lead to harder problems like stress or anxiety.
Toxic masculinity
Another stigma on Men’s Mental Health Month that is also a common issue is toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity is the belief that men must act in a certain way to be considered "real men". This includes being dominant, taking control, and never showing emotions. Because of this, men often feel like they can’t show their sadness. Instead, they prefer to bottle up their feelings that might lead to anger since it's acceptable. After all, this toxic behaviour can affect men's lives and the way they deal with emotions.
Pressure to be stoic
Stoic is the other issue of Men's Mental Health Month. It's a trait to endure pain without showing feelings or complaining. This idea puts a lot of pressure on people, especially men. Men tend to feel like they have to hide what they're going through and deal with it on their own. Because of this, men often feel lonely or stressed.
Fear of judgment
Fear of judgment is another problem that needs to be raised in Men's Mental Health Month. Many men fear that opening up about their feelings will make people think they are weak. They worry that talking about mental health will make people call them "soft" or "less of a man". This fear makes it hard for them to share what they’re going through, even though they might need support. As a result, they often suffer in silence, feeling alone because they don't want to be seen as weak.
Social media pressures
Last but not least, the pressure from social media needs to be raised on the men's mental health month. Social media can make things worse by showing an unrealistic version of life. People often post only the best parts of their lives, which makes others feel like they need to be perfect. In this case, men often feel like those things hurt their pride. The pressure makes them think that they must look strong and confident, even on social media.
How to support men's mental health month
Men's Mental Health Month is an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage men to talk about their mental health. To support this, people can participate by sharing information through online platforms. This effort helps people to understand the issue better. In addition to that, this can be the way to break down the stigma around men’s mental health. As a result, men can have a safe space to show their emotions or seek help.
Aside from spreading awareness, participating in support groups is another way to help men with their problems. Those groups provide resources and often discuss mental health problems that men may face. To show support, people can donate or volunteer for their activities. Besides, try to understand men's problems to show empathy. In other words, these efforts can create a more supportive environment.
Above all, it’s important to encourage men to take care of their mental health. Provide them with information about therapy, hotlines, or support groups. Besides, work on healthy habits like exercising, doing hobbies, or practising mindfulness to help maintain well-being. Men’s Mental Health Month is an opportunity to remind everyone that mental health is just as important as physical health. In final words, it’s okay for men to prioritise it too.
Raise your awareness of mental health with CCM!
In conclusion, Men's Mental Health Month is a time to raise awareness about men's mental health issues. This occasion has the potential to break the stigma around expressing emotions. By celebrating this month, men are encouraged to talk about their problems and get support when needed. Besides, they need to take care of their mental health just like they do their physical health. In the end, this leads to a healthier and more positive world for all genders.
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