Unpacking the Stigma Around Men’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Every September we observe Suicide Prevention Month, an important time for reflecting on how best we can support those at risk of suicide. This year, the UMTRC is looking at how telehealth can be used to support a group that is uniquely at risk for suicide – men.

Men’s Health and Suicide Prevention

During Men’s Health Month this June, we spoke to health educator Brock Turner on our Virtual View podcast. One of the first things we touched on was men’s reluctance to discuss their own health, especially in the realm of mental health. In other words, the first rule of men’s mental health is not to talk about men’s mental health. And that reflects in the research – one study reported that 40 percent of men had never spoken about their mental health to anyone. Another found that depression and anxiety are left largely untreated in men. This has consequences - according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men die by suicide a rate four times higher than women.

So why is this happening? Well, the reasons are far from uniform. For one, men are generally not the ones making healthcare decisions for their household. An estimated 80 percent of households report women are being responsible for the healthcare decisions like which providers to go to and when to visit. And, when it comes to mental health, there is an undeniable stigma. Stigma, which refers to the attitude that society has towards something, has long dictated that men who seek support for their mental health are somehow weak or unmanly. While demonstrably untrue, this stigma persists and has very real consequences.

Fighting Stigma

So, how can we work against this stigma? There are a few ways. Most importantly, we need to fight stigma by talking about men’s mental health. The stigma that exists was only able to grow so prominent because of the lack of discussion around men’s mental health. Like we said on our podcast – the first rule of men’s mental health is we don’t talk about men’s mental health. If we do talk about it, we can reduce the stigma. The stigma around men’s mental health is complex and is complicated even further in the United States by deeply ingrained sociocultural norms around how men should act. But talking openly and honestly really is the best way to start deconstructing these norms and building a healthier future.

Stigma, though, can’t be defeated in a day. It still deeply impacts many men when it comes to seeking mental health care and will likely do so for some time despite our best efforts. So, let’s talk about what we can do right now. One great way to reduce stigma is to employ telebehavioral health. It can be much less intimidating to seek mental health care via telehealth than it is to physically go to a therapist or counselor. More accessible mental health care is correlated with lower suicide rates. By utilizing telehealth, men can work on their mental health without overcoming the public stigma of discussing their own mental health.

Looking Forward

Improving men’s mental health isn’t something that is going to be finished in a day, a year, or even a decade. Like many large-scale public health challenges, it will require dedicated work by professionals using a myriad of methods and tools. Telehealth is one of those tools. And there are programs in our region using it already – the Preventing Suicide in Michigan Men (PRiSMM) program at Central Michigan University has a toolkit for providers looking to use telehealth to improve men’s mental health. Countless other programs exist to help connect men virtually with telehealth support. With the help of these programs and the support of medical professionals, we can all work towards the societal acceptance of mental health support for everyone.

More Resources 

• A Virtual View - Suicide Prevention and Stigma Reduction with Dr. Alison Arnold