Columbia Mental Health is dedicated to supporting your mental health. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, we encourage you to reach out for immediate support through your local crisis services by dialing 988, contacting your local emergency services, or visiting your local emergency room.
When men grow up hearing messages that link masculinity and strength to silence or stoicism, it can make it harder for them to identify what they’re feeling, let alone ask for support. Because of that, their emotional pain can go unspoken and unaddressed for years. As a result, men can come to rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms, experience social withdrawal and isolation, anger management issues, difficult relationship dynamics, or engage in behavior that puts them or those they love in danger.
In 2022, only 41.6% of men with any mental health condition received mental health treatment.1
At Columbia Mental Health, we offer mental health care for people who identify as men, including gender-diverse communities and LGBTQIA+. Our inclusive, individualized support is for everyone who bravely reaches out for it.
Identifying roadblocks to mental health in men
Many individuals who identify as men experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or chronic stress but never seek formal care. This can be because the symptoms go unrecognized as legitimate causes for concern, lack of awareness around what are and aren’t signs of emotional or mental distress, cultural or generational beliefs around masculinity, or masking behaviors such as coping with substance use. Men also tend to have limited social support for taking care of their mental health.
Unrecognized symptoms
Signs of poor mental health may be dismissed as “everyday stress.” Men may experience fatigue, irritability, restlessness, or physical pain without realizing these could be signs of depression or anxiety. Since these signs don’t necessarily present as what’s typically thought of as depression or anxiety, they may be considered benign.
Mental health awareness
Many men just aren’t taught how to identify emotional struggles. They may incorrectly assume that mental health issues are only associated with “Big T trauma,” like experiencing a violent attack or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms brought on by war, not everyday job burnout, or the grief over the death of a loved one or the end of a relationship.
Generational or cultural beliefs about masculinity
Baby Boomers and Gen X tend to avoid therapy due to long-standing stigma around it. Many men in this age bracket may have grown up believing that therapy indicated some type of weakness or that emotional challenges should be handled privately. For men in LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities, experiences of discrimination, trauma, and medical mistrust can further limit access to affirming care.
At Columbia Mental Health, we understand the importance of culturally sensitive, identity-informed treatment and are committed to inclusive care for both cisgender and gender-diverse individuals. Expanding men’s mental health awareness means reshaping the narrative around strength and developing a better understanding of what stability in mental and emotional health looks like.
Limited social support for mental health care
Compared to women, men often have fewer close or emotionally supportive relationships. In 1990, 40% of men reported having between six and nine close friends. In 2021, that percentage shrank to only 15% with the same number of friends.2
What does men’s mental health really mean?
Good mental health doesn’t mean always feeling happy. It means navigating life’s ups and downs, recognizing and processing emotions rather than avoiding them, and accessing support when needed. Mental health fluctuates over time and is influenced by various biological, social, and psychological factors. Specific life transitions, physical health traumas, social stressors, discrimination, family dynamics, and the state of your relationships all play a role in the condition of your mental health.
Feeling generally steady in your ability to manage stress without overreliance on substances to cope, having at least a couple of people in your life that you’re close to and can confide in, and having the energy and focus needed to meet your daily responsibilities are good indicators of an overall sense of balance. For many men, it also means feeling confident in their roles in life, including in their workplace and their families.
Signs of mental wellness in men
You’re emotionally steady most days
This doesn’t mean never getting stressed, but it does mean you’re not as frequently overwhelmed or feeling angry, sad, or numb without a clear reason or for extended periods. It’s completely healthy to experience a wide range of emotions. Individuals need to be able to recognize and process them without engaging in unhealthy extremes like disconnecting or “just getting over it,” or becoming overwhelmed.
You follow consistent sleeping and eating patterns
If you find that you’re unable to fall asleep or stay asleep, or your appetite wanes, these may be early signs of depression or another type of emotional distress.
You have the ability to focus
Everyone sometimes feels overwhelmed by their daily responsibilities. However, persistently feeling overwhelmed with work, family life, and social commitments is likely a sign that support is needed.
You feel connected
As loneliness becomes an increasing issue for men of all ages and contributes to a variety of physical health conditions, staying connected is essential. Small gestures like texting a friend or grabbing coffee with a buddy can help reduce feelings of isolation.
You practice healthy coping skills
Some people who identify as men turn to vices like alcohol, excessive work hours, stress-eating, or risk-taking to cope with pain. On the surface, these may look like “normal” and accepted ways of functioning in a modern society, but they may mask deep mental health concerns.
Like physical health, mental health can change throughout your life. It’s ok to seek support when you need it. At Columbia Mental Health, our therapists consider each client’s unique set of circumstances, environment, identity, and values when creating a care plan.
Common mental health conditions that men experience
While mental health conditions affect people of all genders, men are more likely to experience specific patterns that influence how those conditions are expressed and addressed. The most common mental health conditions among men include:
- Depression: Often underdiagnosed in men, this condition can seem more like anger or a desire to disconnect from others.
- Anxiety disorders: Generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety can affect men, sometimes surfacing as restlessness, difficulty sleeping, or physical tension.
- PTSD: Common among veterans, first responders, and survivors of violence, PTSD in men may involve flashbacks, nightmares, emotional detachment, and heightened irritability.
- Anger and impulse control issues: While not a formal diagnosis, unmanaged anger or difficulty controlling impulses can signal underlying mental health challenges. These may be related to trauma, depression, or excessive stress.
Recognizing these conditions early and seeking tailored treatment can lead to significant improvement in your quality of life and the lives of those most important to you.
When men don't get the support they need
When people imagine what mental health concerns like depression look like, they often think of symptoms that are more typically associated with women. But rather than the sadness or tearfulness that usually accompanies depression in women, for example, men may experience more bursts of anger, irritability, physical tension, social withdrawal, and a lack of motivation.
Suppressing emotion can result in a build-up of unresolved grief, anger, or anxiety, which can eventually wreak havoc on your relationships. These unaddressed issues can also impact job performance and your ability to be a good partner or parent.
When men don’t receive care, partners, children, coworkers, and close friends feel the impact too. Seeking treatment is a way to protect and strengthen the people and priorities that matter to you the most.
Therapy that works for you
Some men hesitate to pursue therapy because they imagine an experience that doesn’t feel natural to them. Due to stereotypes about therapy, they envision themselves lying on a couch and sharing deep, emotional memories right away. For some men, the idea of this kind of self-exploration can be off-putting. And while vulnerable expression may work for some, it’s not the only option.
Therapy can be flexible and practical. It can focus on setting goals, managing stress, improving sleep, or troubleshooting a specific relationship issue. More long-term approaches to therapy that help you manage the inevitable challenges of life are available if and when you’re ready.
Call Columbia Mental Health today and begin your mental wellness journey
In 2022, men committed suicide at a rate four times higher than women.2 If you or someone important to you is struggling, it’s crucial to get the help you need before things get to a breaking point. Columbia Mental Health offers therapy, psychiatric medication management, and interventional treatments like NeuroStar® TMS and Spravato® across multiple locations in Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C., metro area. Our diverse team includes therapists and psychiatric providers who work with adults from all backgrounds and identities, offering inclusive, client-centered care, and we accept most major insurance plans. We see each person who walks through our doors as an individual, not just another client. Our goals are to make you feel heard, seen, and supported.
Be the one to start breaking the stigma. Take control of your life and build a better future, not just for yourself but for other men. Call Columbia Mental Health at 703.682.8208 for more information about our services.
For new clients, please click here to schedule an appointment. For existing clients, please click here and find your office location to contact your office directly.
Sources: