The month of June signifies the dawn of an important opportunity to raise awareness for men’s mental health. There are a variety of reasons men’s mental health is an important cause to raise awareness for. The primary reason is to debunk the false stigma that having a mental health condition makes any man inferior to another.
Not only could that not be farther from the truth, but many of the strongest men struggle with mental health. Let the facts to be mentioned erase the miraging stigma surrounding men’s mental health. Most importantly, let the following details serve as a beacon of hope and enlightenment for all men who struggle with mental health issues.
At Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery, our men’s only rehab in Nampa, Idaho provides a safe environment for men to speak openly about their mental health issues, and receive the help they need to live successfully.
Important Historical Facts of Men’s Mental Health Month
Since 1994, the month of June has been nationally recognized as men’s mental health month. Awareness of this issue was instituted by Congress due to the ever-increasing cases of mental conditions and suicides among men. Former senator Bob Dole was the man who first took notice of the severity of overlooked mental conditions and incidents involving men. Consequently, he took proactive action to ensure men nationwide can be encouraged and financial assistance to receive the necessary help.
What Leads to Mental Health Conditions in Men
Not only does every individual cope with life differently. The biological discrepancies between men and women also affect how these very different sexes are impacted. Bearing that in mind, here are the most likely causes of mental health conditions in men.
A breakup is equally hard on both sexes. However, contrary to popular belief, numerous studies indicate men have a more difficult time coping with breakups than women. This can be due to several reasons.
For starters, women often form tighter bonds easier than men do, making their struggle more culpable in numbers. Men, however, tend to seclude themselves in such situations, making things more difficult. In turn, this can take a toll on their mental and physical health.
Too much work without enough downtime can ultimately be a man’s downfall mentally and psychologically. The most frustrating part about work-induced mental struggles is it’s often hard to convince the individual they need a break. This is due to the fact some men can be oblivious or in denial of the fact that their workload is too much. This denial can also be rooted in the stigma that being overwhelmed is an unmasculine trait. It’s important to understand that it takes true strength for anybody to admit they are overwhelmed.
Many mental health issues in men can be linked to trauma experienced in either childhood or adulthood. These traumas can remain hidden by the individual under the inherent belief that they can handle them themselves. Consequently, failing to come to terms with the personal impact of these traumas only worsens their toll on mental health. You can take better control of your mental health struggles by confronting a prior trauma with professional assistance.
Some men struggle with mental health more than others due to inherently sexist beliefs about masculinity. These beliefs center around ideals that men should handle anything and everything that comes their way without anybody’s help. Not only is this mentality a dangerously self-harming mindset, but it’s also very untrue and alienating. As a result, men with this mentality may be in continual denial to get the treatment they need.
What is the Stigma Surrounding Men with Mental Health?
There are several unfair and false presumptions about men’s mental health. All of which are inaccurate misrepresentations that should be erased from both society and man’s mentality. Here are some of those false presumptions about men with mental health conditions.
One of the greatest falsehoods or stigmas of mental health is that having a mental health condition is a sign of weakness. The truth is, the greatest of men and women struggle with mental health conditions. It takes true inner strength to get the help you need and deserve. That’s why admitting a need for help is the most masculine thing you can do. It takes true character to acknowledge you cannot handle something alone. Take that first important step of gaining control of your mental fortitude by accepting help today.
The most untrue presumption surrounding men and women alike is that having a mental problem means you’re crazy. Everybody struggles with different problems and neuronic imbalances just happens to be one of those. As alluded to earlier, it’s usually the strongest people who struggle with a mental condition. Thankfully, Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery has all the tools you need to improve your quality of life and keep your mental health symptoms at bay.
Another falsehood embedded in the male psyche is success means standing on your own two feet without help. That same masculine premise can make men feel as if they’ve somehow failed in their manhood. This could not be farther from the truth.
You’ll notice that a common theme among stigmas is usually the opposite is true, especially in the case of this particular falsehood. Accepting help means you’ve succeeded as a person. Most importantly, it means you’ve succeeded at the most important first step toward gaining control of your mental health.
How Common Are Mental Health Problems in Men?
Statistics indicate an estimated 20 percent of men suffered from some form of mental illness in 2021. What makes that statistic more staggering is a recent poll that suggests that number could be as much as triple that number. That’s because many men don’t discuss their mental health struggles openly.
Studies from a national survey found over 40 percent of men have not told anybody about their symptoms. 20 percent of men in the same poll cited men’s mental health stigma as a primary reason for withholding such information. Men’s mental health month is intended to encourage males with mental health to receive professional assistance proudly.
Why Do Men Have a Harder Time Seeking Help For Mental Illness?
Several internal and external pressures prevent men from receiving the treatment they need. Understanding these pressures and why they don’t need to be an obstacle can help you or a loved one get over that hump to accept help. Correlatively, here are but a few reasons many men refuse to seek the top-quality treatment you deserve.
A primary reason men refuse mental health treatment stems from a very selfless idea of not wanting to burden others. What they don’t realize is it’s much more burdening not to accept the help that is very evident you need. This mentality in itself causes more worry, fear, and burdens than any treatment. It’s important to understand that loved ones don’t consider it a burden to be the greatest support in your mental health struggle. Many loved ones consider it a joy and a privilege to help a loved one get back on track.
Though there’s no shame in having a mental condition, many men are embarrassed to openly admit their mental health struggles. This leads to many males not getting any treatment for a variety of life-threatening mental disorders. Getting the help you need is more than just a vital step in drastically improving your quality of life. Most importantly, it’s the very decision that will save your life.
Pride is a trait that makes things a lot more difficult for us than is necessary. In the case of mental health sufferers, men often refuse to seek help simply because they don’t want to admit they need professional help. This stems from a false belief alluded to earlier that it is somewhere less masculine to admit you need assistance. It’s not about embarrassment, it’s the pride of proving to yourself that you can handle it. The truth is, we all need help at some point and it takes a real man to admit it. Use your inner strength to take that first step by reaching out to our dedicated team today.
A primary reason men don’t find the help they need is they have nobody to talk to about their mental struggles. This lack of social interactions can occur for several reasons ranging from personal seclusion. Mental health requires strong friendships to overcome. Lack of social bonds, in turn, results in severe loneliness and depression, thus worsening mental health symptoms. This is especially dangerous considering the CDC statistics that cite nearly 80 percent of suicides are male.
You can have peace of mind knowing our drug rehab in Idaho excels at helping people form strong support groups. Your mental health symptoms will be easier to manage thanks to the strong and often lifelong bonds you form.
Men’s mental health is a serious issue that deserves the best quality treatment and people to overcome. You can receive all that and more in our facility’s peaceful atmosphere. Prove the men’s mental health stigma false by showing how strong you are by accepting professional help. The moment you speak to our admissions team, you’ll be glad you made the plunge.
Clinical Director
Kendall Maloof is the clinical director at Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has held multiple leadership roles before settling here at Eagle Creek. Kendall received her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2016. Her career in mental and behavioral health began in 2014 when she took up internships in both the nonprofit and for profit sectors. She interned at multiple reputable companies, such as The Living Success Center and 449 Recovery in California.
In 2019, Kendall became the clinical director of Sunsets Recovery for Woman, a dual diagnosis program in southern California. Kendall is a natural leader. She has an incredible ability to problem solve and stay calm in any situation. Kendall never fails to show up when she is needed, and her calm demeanor makes her team and clients feel at ease. Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery is proud to have Kendall as our clinical director.
