Summary
- Men’s Health Month is important to celebrate, as one in every two Canadian men is at risk of social isolation.
Research indicates that men’s reluctance to discuss health difficulties can exacerbate existing ones. - Men may resort to risky behaviours, such as suicide, to cope with stress and mental anguish instead of seeking help.
- In 2019, men accounted for 75% of all suicides in Canada, and suicide was the leading cause of death among young men in 2018.
- Men believe they must appear strong to maintain their social status and avoid being perceived as weak.
Why is Men’s Health Month celebrated?
Men’s Health Month is observed annually in June to raise awareness of men’s physical and mental health issues.
According to studies, males rarely discuss health issues, which exacerbates their health problems. The situation is serious in both Canada and the United States.
Men’s Health Week, like Men’s Health Month, takes place around the middle of June and ends with Father’s Day, which is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.
Experts call men’s mental health difficulties a quiet pandemic in North America, yet few people discuss them.
In North America, male depression and suicide rates have risen dramatically in recent years.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, guys are approximately four times more likely than females to commit suicide, and over 6 million men in the United States have depressive symptoms each year.
Despite these sobering numbers, over half of the males were more melancholy than they admitted to their loved ones.
Why is it Difficult for Men to Discuss Their Health?
Men typically find it difficult to express their emotions, including health concerns. However, when it comes to mental health difficulties, things get considerably more complicated.
Men accounted for 75% of all completed suicides in Canada in 2019, with suicide being the leading cause of death for young men in 2018.
Men are frequently socialised not to express their feelings; as a result, as a group, men may cover up their stress and deal with emotional pain through risky actions and acts, such as suicide, rather than seeking help.
Some of the most significant barriers stopping males from seeking mental health care are views of weakness in needing therapy, fears of social rejection, and cultural issues.
Male depression is difficult to diagnose because they downplay symptoms, are frequently unwilling to admit depressive symptoms, and do not recognise the illnesses, among other things.
One in every two Canadian men is at risk of social isolation. Not having people to confide in increases stress and the likelihood of depression.
According to research, males value strong social relationships and supportive networks. However, a recent study demonstrates that men’s attitudes regarding social interactions vary significantly.
The Significance of Men’s Physical Health
Several studies have found that men are less likely to consult doctors than women. There are various variables contributing to this phenomenon.
However, this ‘wait and watch’ approach dramatically diminishes their chances of early detection of chronic diseases.
Men’s delayed help-seeking exacerbates their health concerns.
According to studies, men engage in far more risky activity than women when it comes to health issues. Men’s risky activity contributes significantly to their shorter life expectancy than women.
The American Heart Association’s experts feel that males avoid doctors due to misplaced masculinity.
Men believe that they must be perceived as strong; else, they will lose their social status.
Conclusion
It is apparent that men are less likely than women to seek treatment. The condition remains with both physical and mental consultations. Men are more likely to experience mental health problems as levels of isolation and stress rise.
All of this research and data imply that as a society, we must do our share to encourage men to seek help.
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