Why do many men have a harder time seeking treatment for their mental health?
A lot of men fall prey to the false idea that they should be “tough enough” to fix all their problems on their own.
The stigma men face is directly correlated to this idea of being “macho”. A lot of guys don’t want to admit they have this problem. They still see depression as a sign of weakness.
This type of thinking is outdated, a relic of previous generations that doesn’t speak to the current medical understanding of mental illness.
Mental health struggles are often seen as a personal issues and a lack of personal fortitude because of which the stigma surrounding mental illness atill exists. (not to mention, the pressure on men to always be strong), a lot of men struggle with admitting they may need help.
The burden of toxic masculinity is not just asking for help that men seem to struggle with.
When you’re talking about toxic masculinity it really comes down to the way men are raised.
They way they’re taught to be strong and quiet. Constantly hearing phrases like “be a man”, “men don’t cry” or being labelled as a girl when they express the slightest emotion.
This dysfunctional model of masculinity may be why men are more likely to underreport symptoms of depression.
