Did you know that in Australia, 3 out of every 4 suicides are committed by men? Men often adopt an attitude of just pushing through things, sometimes to the point of injury. However mental health can be much more complex, and often toughing it out can lead to more serious issues. It is for these reasons that 1 in 8 men suffer from Depression and 1 in 5 from Anxiety.
Although, despite the large proportion of men who experience depression and anxiety, only about 10% will ever seek help. Listed below are only a few of the different reasons for this discrepancy, and some suggestions of how to look after your mental health.
- Culture – men are often told that they have to be tough, or that ‘boys don’t cry’. This is a concept which is deeply embedded in our culture and is one of the largest reasons why men never seek help; they don’t want to appear weak.
- Healthy relationships – building a strong support network, by developing healthy relationships with the people around us can help to protect against depression and anxiety. When times get tough, we can lean on the people around us to help us get through it.
- Work – men, in many cases, can get caught up in their work – becoming unrealistic in their expectations of supporting their family. It’s important to lead a balanced life, where work is balanced with play; finding sports or hobbies can be a great way to release some steam after work, and also helps to protect against depression and anxiety, and they serve as a great way to meet new people and create a support network.
- Talking – find someone you trust, whom you can feel you can talk to about anything, is incredibly important. Having someone who you know will listen without judgement, whether it’s a friend, family member, or a professional, can allow you to vent, because sometimes we just need to get things off our chest.
If you would like to talk to one of our psychologists about your mental health, or you are concerned about the mental health of someone you care for, please do not hesitate to call us on 3488 0483 or send an email to admin@baypsych.com.au
