Hello Friends,
Let’s talk about something that we need to speak about more – men’s mental health. As a society we often overlook and ignore Men’s mental health. Really, it should be at the front of our efforts to destigmatize mental health.
Men make up 75% of suicides in Canada and 80% in the United States. Society tells men they are supposed to be strong and stay away from any emotional vulnerability. Men are often never taught how to navigate their emotions and are instead encouraged to push down or avoid them. Because of this, men frequently feel scared and isolated when they are struggling. November is Men’s Mental Health Month, so today, I will cover some ways we can all support the men in our lives.
1. Create a Safe Place – Let the men in your life know that you will not judge them and that it is okay for them to open up to you if they ever need/want to. Make sure they know it is okay if they are not okay and that you are there for them.
2. Check in on them regularly – Show you care by checking in on them regularly. Instead of just asking, “How are you?” Try, “How have you been feeling recently?” “What has been on your mind?” or “Would you like to talk about what’s been bothering you? I am here to listen.” These questions show that you are open to listening and care about how they truly are feeling.
3. Be Patient – Learning how to open up when you have been pushing down or avoiding your emotions takes time. Let them talk when they are ready. Do not pressure them into opening up before they are ready. Pressuring them will only cause them to close off further. If they are not prepared to talk, sit with them and maybe offer them their favourite treat or something that may help bring them some joy.
4. Normalize Talking About Struggles – If you are able, talk about something you have struggled with to open up the conversation. This may help the men feel more comfortable opening up to you, as you may have similar experiences that they can relate to. If not, it will open the table up for vulnerability. Only do this with the intent of showing understanding, not for comparison’s sake.
5. Listen and Offer Support – When/if they come to you and are ready to talk, be prepared to listen. Your job as a support is not to fix their problems. Your job is to actively listen, be there for them, offer support and help them feel seen and heard. Ask if you can do anything with questions like “What’s one thing I could do to make things a little easier for you right now?”
We all need to do better at holding space for and normalizing men’s mental health. If you want me to dive deeper into these ideas or discuss men’s mental health further, let me know in the comments below.
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Until next week, My Friends!
P.S. I’m proud of you 😉