Mental Health in Men
By Clark Hunt, M.Ed., LPC, NCC Right Track Medical Group
One in five Americans will experience a mental illness. Despite the prevalence of these concerns, men are typically less likely to seek mental health treatment than women.
Because many men are traditionally taught to hide their feelings in an effort to appear tough or “manly,” they will often minimize their feelings and avoid treatment. Instead, they suffer in silence, only seeking support when they reach rock bottom — if they seek help at all.
These powerful social stigmas surrounding men and mental health, however, must be overcome because left untreated mental illness could have tragic consequences.
Depression in Men
One of the most common mental health concerns for men is depression. An estimated 6 million men suffer from depression each year in America.
Men experiencing depression may seem angry or irritable as opposed to sad or anxious. Men are also more likely to turn to substances like drugs and alcohol to cope with their feelings of depression.
When men don’t seek treatment for mental health concerns like depression, their feelings may intensify until they feel unbearable. Untreated depression is the greatest risk factor of suicide, and men are four times more likely to die by suicide in the United States compared to women.
While depression is common in men, other concerns include anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.
By Ben Sumerford, PMHNP-BC Right Track Medical Group
Seeking Treatment
If you are experiencing mental health concerns, the first step is acknowledging your symptoms and seeking treatment. While treatment is highly individualized, it’s important for everyone to have a grasp on general symptoms so that they can identify when it is time to reach out for help.
Men typically label their symptoms as feelings of anger, fatigue or stress. However, recognizing these feelings as potential warning signs and communicating them to a mental health professional is critical to improving.
While prioritizing your mental health is incredibly important, it can also be difficult to take the initial step to treatment. It takes great vulnerability and courage to address mental health concerns, and social support from family and friends can help take away from the stigma of seeking help.
If you are experiencing symptoms of mental health issues, do not be ashamed to seek treatment. The earlier you recognize and take that first step, the easier symptoms are to treat.
Clark Hunt is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Treatment Coordinator at Right Track Medical Group. Ben Sumerford is a board-certified Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Right Track Medical Group.
To learn about Right Track Medical Group’s approach to mental healthcare and to view staff bios, visit https://www.righttrackmedical.com/about.
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