Why Men Struggle to Talk About Mental Health, and How That’s Changing.

In many parts of the world, men are facing a silent crisis. According to the World Health Organization, men account for 75% of all suicide deaths globally. In countries like Canada, the United States, and the UK, suicide is one of the leading causes of death among men under 50. Yet despite these staggering statistics, mental health issues among men remain under-discussed and under-treated.

Many men suffer in silence, it's time we normalize emotional struggles and mental health support for men.

A key barrier is stigma, rooted in long-standing societal beliefs that men must be stoic, emotionally reserved, and self-reliant. The American Psychological Association found that men are significantly less likely than women to seek professional mental health support. Many men grow up internalizing the message that expressing emotion is a sign of weakness, and this internalized stigma becomes a barrier to healing.

However, there are signs of change. A 2023 survey by Movember revealed that 42% of men under 35 had opened up about their mental health struggles with someone in the past year, a notable increase from just a decade ago. Initiatives like Bell Let's Talk, HeadsUpGuys, and Project Oasis are helping men navigate their emotional wellbeing with support and community.

Creating safe spaces for boys to express vulnerability is vital to breaking the silence around men's mental health.

To sustain this progress, we need:

• Comprehensive mental health education in schools that includes boys and gender expectations

• Representation of emotionally expressive male role models in media

• Policies that prioritize mental health care access, especially for underserved men

The question we must continue to ask is: How can we create a culture where men feel safe to say, “I’m not okay”, and know that they’ll be heard?