The Battle Within: Mental Health In Men
Ben Sumerford, PMHNP-BC, psychiatric nurse practitioner with Right Track Medical Group.
Evasion and camouflage aren’t just battle tactics. For many men, they are the go-to strategies for coping with mental health issues.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, only 36.8% of men with any mental illness receive annual support.
“Men, especially in the South, have grown up with the myth that they should never show weakness,” said Ben Sumerford, a psychiatric nurse practitioner with Right Track Medical Group. “Men are less likely to talk about their feelings and more likely to use ineffective coping mechanisms.”
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has only made the gap between men and their mental health wider.
A report by the Cleveland Clinic found that 66% of men said they rarely talk about the impact COVID-19 has had on their mental health. This is despite the fact that the same report found that three-in-five men felt the pandemic had a greater negative impact on their mental health than the 2008 recession.
“Men, especially in the South, have grown up with the myth that they should never show weakness.”
“I think most of us felt the impact that isolation can have on us during COVID and, in addition, we realized how much we need social support from one another,” Sumerford said. “Many dealt with loss of employment or time lost from work due to being exposed to COVID or contracting COVID. Men, in particular, have a sense of belonging in providing for their families and with the mandatory shutdowns and other restrictions during COVID that was no longer possible."
If you are struggling with your mental health — whether it’s because of COVID or not — it is important to take action as quickly as possible.
“With things slowly getting back to normal it is important to realize that we no longer have to be in isolation,” Sumerford said. “It's especially important to reach out to friends, family, or a mental health professional to let them know what you are feeling because early support and intervention offer the best chance of a favorable outcome and return to wellness. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the higher the chances that the symptoms will worsen or that the person will fall back on ineffective coping mechanisms such as self-medicating with drugs or alcohol.”
Sumerford also recommends keeping these tips in mind:
Understand the signs. Depression and anxiety often look different in men, Sumeford said. It isn’t just feeling sad. It can manifest as persistent fatigue, trouble sleeping, irritability, eating too little or too much, and anger. “Men may not be as good about connecting the dots between what they are feeling and anxiety and depression,” he said. “When it starts to interfere with day-to-day function, that’s when we really encourage people to seek treatment.”
Reach out. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, Sumerford said. “When you do find the courage to talk about your depression or anxiety, most people are open to sharing their experiences, too.”
Take charge. “You’ve got to take care of yourself,” Sumerford said. “Outcomes are so much better if you invest in your mental health.”