Why Do Men Refuse to Seek Mental Health Services?
Detecting mental health issues in men could be problematic because of how men feel about discussing their mental health. While women usually focus inward when dealing with mental health challenges, men try to fix theirs externally.
Men seem to deal with hindrances at a higher level than women. First, they often don’t comprehend they need help with their mental health. Second, even when they realize they need it, they get help to a lesser extent. Third, men typically feel afterward that they didn’t get the care they needed. Since men deal with obstacles during their care-seeking journey, a lot of them will stop getting mental health treatment.
Men Ask for Help Differently
Men are more likely to accept help when there is an opportunity to reciprocate, meaning they help the other person in return. This diminishes the stigma of being “weak” which is frequently associated with asking for help. Additionally, men like to fix or try to fix problems themselves before reaching out for help.
Men Express Mental Health Problems Differently
Though women and men suffer similar symptoms of some mental health concerns, how they deal with them varies. For example, women often react to symptoms of depression in familiar ways such as sadness, disheartened, or feeling worthless.
On the other hand, men usually react to depression with bouts of irritability that include frustration, anger, and other behaviors that are frequently dismissed as “acting out.” If men respond to a mental health issue with increased alcohol and drug use, these are deemed as this individual just “being a man.”
A Stigmatization Associated with Men Seeking Help
There is a stigmatization in society when it comes to men seeking help for their mental issues which is why most men don’t seek treatment. The image in society is that men are strong and if there is a problem, they just need to “man up.” Society has nothing to say when dealing with where men should go when they need mental health treatment.
Reach Out If You’re Suffering from Mental Illness
If you’re a man suffering from a mental health issue, or you’re having a difficult time dealing with everyday living, get the help you need. You’re not weak and you’re not alone.
There are several ways to reach out: you could talk to a doctor, a friend, a pastor, or a therapist. You can have your therapy session in an office or online. At Elevated Counseling & Wellness, our focus is on treating men’s mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and even couples’ therapy. We also offer Denver’s men therapy that helps men overcome their mental health challenges, as well as the societal stigma of getting help in the first place.
If you are experiencing any hardships, know that you’re not a burden, you don't have to tough it out, and it's okay to ask for help. While it might feel uncomfortable talking about your feelings, the benefits are well worth it.
