At The Self Image Institute, we do know that mental health does not discriminate. Whether its stress, anxiety, depression or anything else, we all deal with mental health issues to varying degrees, and sometimes it can be hard to acknowledge and talk about them. One demographic that can sometimes go unnoticed is men. It can be easy to forget about men's mental health and expect them to be 'strong' and not show emotion. However, like all of us, men struggle too. If you would like support in dealing with your mental health, explore our website or contact us today to see how hypnotherapy can help you cope with mental health issues.
Why Should We Care About Men's Mental Health?
Mental health can often be thought of as a women's issue, but it's important to remember that men struggle with mental health problems too. In fact, men are more likely to die by suicide than women. According to Samaritans, the male suicide rate for 2021 was 15.3 per 100,000* compared to the female suicide rate of 4.9 per 100,000*. Furthermore, Males aged 45-49 continue to have the highest suicide rate (23.8 per 100,000). This is a growing issue as men's mental health has gone underappreciated for a long time.
Before discussing how we can help, it is important to understand why men's mental health is becoming such an issue.
Reasons for Men's Mental Health Issues
Stigma
One main reason is the stigma behind men showing emotions and 'weakness'. Society tells men to be 'strong' and not show any weakness. This is incredibly damaging as it stops men from seeking help when they need it the most. It can also make men feel like they have to bottle up their emotions which can lead to serious consequences. This can cause men to keep their feelings bottled up and try to deal with issues themselves. However, we know that this is not a healthy way of dealing with such problems.
Lack of Support
Another reason is that there is a lack of support available for men with mental health issues. There are significantly fewer services available for men, and those that are available often go under the radar. This leaves many men feeling isolated and lost, without anyone to turn to for help.
Talking about Feelings
Another reason men might not seek help is because they may find it hard to talk about their feelings. In fact, 40% of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health. This could be for several reasons such as the stigma around men's mental health, or because they feel like they shouldn't burden anyone with their problems. Whatever the reason, this unwillingness to talk about feelings can lead to men dealing with issues on their own which can make problems worse. Men do not have enough conversations about their mental health, therefore making it harder for them to raise these issues and find support.
Changes to Help Men's Mental Health
Now that we know some of the reasons men might not seek help for their mental health, what changes can be made?
Breaking the Stigma
The first and most important change is breaking the stigma around men's mental health. The modern-day 'man' is very different to the traditional stereotype. Men are encouraged to share their feelings to break the stigma. This can be done in several ways such as
· Raising awareness of men's mental health issues through campaigns and social media
· Encouraging men to speak out about their experiences with mental health
· Providing more support services specifically for men
· Educating people on how to support men with mental health issues
· Stop using terminology such as ‘man up’
By breaking the stigma, we can make it easier for men to talk about their feelings and seek help when they need it. This will help men to feel more supported and less isolated
More Support Services
Another change that needs to be made is increasing the support services available for men. This includes
· Increasing the number of support groups specifically for men
· Making mental health services more accessible for men
· Training more mental health professionals in how to deal with men's mental health issues
Having more support services available will make it easier for men to seek help when they need it. It will also provide them with a safe space to talk about their feelings and get the support they need.
Talk About Feelings More Openly
Another way to help men's mental health is by talking about feelings more openly. This can be done in a several ways such as:
· Encouraging men to talk about their feelings with friends and family
· Starting more conversations about men's mental health in the media
· Providing more resources on men's mental health
By talking about men's mental health more openly, we can make it easier for men to talk about their feelings. This will help to break the stigma around men's mental health and make it easier for men to seek help when they need it.
How Can The Self Image Institute Help Men's Mental Health?
At The Self Image Institute, we are here to support men with their mental health. We offer a range of services such as hypnotherapy, which can help men to deal with the underlying issues causing their mental health problems. Hypnotherapy can be incredibly effective in treating anxiety, stress, and depression. Hypnotherapy helps us to deal with issues by altering the way we face challenges. BY readjusting our thought process and mindset, we can approach challenging situations and issues in a new, healthy way. This is very effective in dealing with anxiety, stress and depression as it allows us to get free of our negative thoughts and change the way we view things. Furthermore, hypnotherapy treatment can also help men to deal with any trauma they may have experienced. If you would like to explore how hypnotherapy could help you, please get in touch today on 07534448713 or yasminswilliams@gmail.com.
Article: Phoenix Marketing
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