Mental Health Services Near Me: Mental Health of Men
Bringing Focus to the Mental Health of Men and Boys
Mental Health Services Near Me: For upon|When it comes to finding a qualified mental health care professional, there are already several resources you can explore to choose someone that fits your needs and expectations. However, for some people, looking for a therapist isn’t always their first step. Instead, it’s to become comfortable with the ability to ask for the assistance they need. Mental Health Services Near Me.
This is the struggle that many men and boys find themselves in. While the mental health care industry has made significant improvements in technology, research, and accessibility over the last decade, there is still a negative stigma around male participation in requesting mental health. However, more industries, organizations, and groups are bringing the focus to encouraging men and boys to seek the help they need and provide education on how mental health influences their livelihoods. Mental Health Services Near Me.
Reducing The Negative Stigma
Being told to “man up” is not an effective way to improve anyone’s mental health, least of all a man going through a difficult situation. Although it’s estimated that more than 6 million men in the US alone suffer from depression, a report from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) shows that men are less likely to receive mental health care support than women. Mental Health Services Near Me.
Old superstitions and gender stereotypes enforce the idea that as a “provider”, a man must be seen as a “pillar of strength” and that they shouldn’t seek out help for emotions that they “don’t have”. These are all stereotypical condescensions that influence the idea that men cannot express their emotions, which means that asking for mental health assistance is a sign of “weakness” or an admission that they’re somehow “less manly”. Mental Health Services Near Me.
These negative stigmas aren’t just harming the mental health of men but also impact young boys who are growing up and trying to learn how to express themselves and communicate. Online mental health resources such as BetterHelp are sharing information and advice on how to help reduce the negative stigma around therapy and improve the connection between professionals and everyone in need. Mental Health Services Near Me.
Improving Men’s Mental Health Education
One of the best ways to reduce the effect of negative stigmas and correct stereotypes is by improving the education surrounding the topic. In recent years, the studies that have shown the vast deficit in men’s mental health support have helped in providing a closer look at these mental health resources and the availability of services to men. By increasing the discussion around the topic, conversations have also been started about how men depict emotion and the effects of being told to withhold their feelings. Mental Health Services Near Me.
A significant example of how these conversations have affected research is in the theory that symptoms of certain mental health conditions may present themselves differently in men and women. Men are more likely to experience headaches, digestive issues, and other physical problems; as such, they’re more likely to see a doctor about their physical symptoms than mental health care professionals about their stress levels or lack of focus and motivation. Mental Health Services Near Me.
Instead of ignoring the negative stigmas surrounding men’s mental health, discussing these facts directly has helped to confront stereotypes more head-on. As mental health resources are adapting and catering to the diverse needs of all types of people who need service, shining a light on disparities and irregular conversations has contributed to exposing internalized beliefs about how mental health should be approached. Mental Health Services Near Me.
Helping Men and Boys Feel More Comfortable
Reaching out can be a difficult task for anyone working through a tough time. For men and boys, the negative stigma that admitting to a struggle is a “weakness” can influence their comfort levels in seeking out assistance. Although pointing out these issues has helped others become more expressive about their lack of support, some may still find it difficult to overcome years of internalizing their emotions and the habits they were taught to suppress their difficulties. Mental Health Services Near Me.
Recent studies have been conducted to interview young men and learn more about how to approach encouraging the male population to seek assistance in the form of counseling and therapy. One research team talked with groups of male students and found several themes that could influence how institutions approached encouraging therapy for their male students. Improving literature about male help-seeking, protecting male vulnerability, and adjusting the intervention format were a few tips on developing ways to make certain mental health programs more suitable for a male audience. Mental Health Services Near Me.
Encouraging men and boys to seek assistance when experiencing symptoms of mental illness can help them to expose and explore past trauma, improve their coping habits, and influence their communication abilities. Mental health isn’t a gendered issue and many groups need assistance when it comes to overcoming their internalized bias against therapy and counseling. To improve the well-being of others, it’s important to encourage everyone to seek help when they’re feeling overwhelmed or distressed. Mental Health Services Near Me.
This article was developed via a partnership with Better Help.
Comments are closed.