Depressed older man

Did you know:

  • New fathers may get postpartum depression
  • 4 out of 5 suicides are male
  • Physical illnesses may trigger depression
  • The gender gap is closer than we think as it relates to mental health

The Canadian Mental Health Association, in a 2007 article, talks about Men’s Mental Health being a ‘silent crisis’ and calls for the attention and awareness to men’s health.  While there has been a women’s movement to address all kinds of health concerns for women, very little is being accomplished for men.

Five reasons why men’s health issues, especially mental health, remain in the shadows:

  1. There is little funding in Canada for men’s health research, and consequently very few men’s health researchers
  2. Society expects men to be tough and strong
  3. Men prefer not to collaborate on their issues
  4. Beliefs about masculinity affect a man’s ability to reach out, for fear of judgment
  5. Men don’t believe they are as susceptible as women to mental health issues

Fortunately, six years after that CMHA article was published, men’s mental health  initiatives received one of the largest non-governmental investments of its kind. The  Movember movement, with direction from the Canadian Mental Health Network, donated $12 million for men’s mental health initiatives.

Movember raises funds and awareness through the growth of moustaches, specifically for men’s health and now men’s mental health. Since 2003, Movember participants have raised more than $446 million in 21 countries.

The $12 million went directly to seven programs directly affecting men:

  1. McGill University – Healthydads.ca website
  2. Ryerson University – Studying the stigma of mental illness among boys and men in Asian communities in Canada
  3. Kids Help Phone –mTalk – mental health counseling and information for teen boys
  4. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – Addressing First Nation boys’ and men’s mental health
  5. Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University – Group program for older men facing retirement
  6. Queen’s Universty – The Caring Campus
  7. University of British Columbia – Masculinities and Men’s Depression and Suicide Network (MD&S NET)

Learn more about these worthy men’s mental health initiatives.

While there is widespread stigma surrounding mental health issues, more stigma is found for men. “Weakness is not manly,” but it is human.

Symptoms of men’s mental health issues

Whether a man or a woman, acknowledging feelings of despair, anxiety and depression  is critical to receiving the appropriate health care for timely and effective management of symptoms. Most men will see their doctor for physical complaints of headache, musculoskeletal pain or other physical symptoms, without realizing that these symptoms could be directly attributed to the stress and anxiety of work and/or home life issues. Some of the signs we see in men are not always found in women:

  • Increased irritability
  • Withdrawal from social events
  • More ‘man cave’ solitary time
  • Violence
  • Increase substance abuse
  • Suicide

In this video produced by the UBC Men’s Health Research group about patterns and symptoms of male depression, we hear from experts as well as those affected.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-6Y-3vFypc&list=TLNQjfy1WnQa6-rVVql0Ql_n99v6yigK1m[/youtube]

What employers can do for men’s mental health

As employers, corporate leaders need to be cognizant of several important issues. These are only a few of many:

  • Be aware that men go through mental health issues, like women, and require a confidential place and person to discuss their concerns without judgment
  • Offer outside resources such as a family doctor, therapist or EAP
  • Manage absenteeism and tardiness with a firm but compassionate understanding of their condition
  • Be attentive to any tasks that may pose a safety issue for a man (or woman) who is easily distracted

Men might not be talking about their mental health issues, but they do have them. Unfortunately they aren’t likely to talk about them freely. Organizations need to realize this and increase corporate support, awareness and resources that will help them cope. Engaging the services of professionals in both genders will provide an opportunity for each person to feel safe in talking with someone who understands their situation and confirm they are not alone, nor are they “going crazy.”