Hello there, HUMAN

The sun shines, nights are longer, and you can hear the ice cream truck tune! Summer is here, and everyone can feel it!

June is known for SUMMER, PRIDE, and MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH!

This edition will dive deeper into why Men’s Mental Health and awareness are essential.

If you haven’t done so already, please share your favorite blog post with a friend, coworker, or neighbor – Let’s start those conversations!

This space was created to provide informational content about

Mental Health.

We also include Poems and passages to let our readers drift away into a place of imagination. Our posts will focus on mental health to widen awareness and provide additional resources to everyone.

Remember to always check in with yourself and those around you.

Our minds are our own; be kind to one another.

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JUNE 2024 Edition

HIGHTIDESBLOG – a blog about mental health

Our Editions include the following:

• Mental Health Hut – Informative
• Crisis Resources – Supportive
• Tidal Waves – Poem
• WHO SAID WHAT – Quote
• Drift Away – Passage

This edition will examine Men’s Mental Health and how societal pressures contribute to its decline.

MENTAL HEALTH HUT

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month; let’s talk about it.

What is Men’s Mental Health?

“Men’s Health Month [is] a national observance used to raise awareness about health care for men and focus on encouraging boys, men, and their families to practice and implement healthy living decisions,” says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Mental health issues are on the rise for all age groups, genders, and segments of our population (1). Though often not discussed and silenced, men’s mental health issues related to depression and anxiety, as well as suicide, are on an exponential rise (1). Unfortunately, due to a myriad of reasons, such as societal norms, pressures, lack of support, socioeconomic status, race, and limited overall societal awareness and acceptance – men are less likely to seek help when symptoms of different mental illnesses arise (1).

What mental disorders affect men?

Studies show that the five significant disorders affecting men are depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis and schizophrenia, and eating disorders.

Let’s give a brief rundown of some helpful information and things to look out for in these specific disorders:

1. Depression —

Depression can affect anyone regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, etc. Men and women can both experience depression; however, women are diagnosed more frequently. Men are less likely to seek help and, as a result, can go undiagnosed (1). This difficult but nuanced relationship between experiencing mental health issues and reporting can lead men to seek different potentially harmful coping mechanisms (1). Reportedly, over 6 million men experience depression annually in the United States. Symptoms can vary from women to men, so it’s important to remember the differences between presentation/manifestation across genders and different groups.

Symptoms vary across emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive domains:

Emotional:

• Increased irritability
• Anger
• Isolation
• Aggression
• Frustration
• Restlessness

Behavioral:

• Interpersonal issues
• Controlling, violent, and abusive behavior
• Risky behaviors such as driving recklessly
• Escapist
• Spending a lot of time at work or sports

Physical:

• Digestive problems
• Erectile dysfunction
• Exhaustion
• Headaches

Cognitive:

• Stress
• Memory, difficulty remembering things
• Difficulty with making decisions
• Difficulty concentrating

2. Anxiety —

Commonly the first mental health disorder young men experience (2). If left untreated, it can lead to comorbid psychiatric issues we often see in men, such as bipolar disorder, depression, and psychosis. Anxiety is often the precursor to other mental health disorders and deserves a lot more attention than it’s given; it can lead to detrimental coping mechanisms and suicide. In addition, anxiety manifests differently in men than women, and widely used diagnostic parameters are not inclusive of the variety of symptoms and experiences of men (2).

3. Bipolar disorders —

Men and women experience bipolar disorders equally. However, symptoms and onset age can differ. Men are normally diagnosed sooner (almost a five-year difference in some cases).

Symptoms include:

• Excessive sleeping
• Excessive eating or not enough
• Feeling lonely while simultaneously isolating from others
• Substance use
• Poor judgment
• Violent behavior

It’s important to note that it can be difficult to differentiate between bipolar disorders and depression, which is the reason it’s important to seek a professional diagnosis (3).

4. Psychosis and schizophrenia —

The onset age is earlier for men, during their late teens or early twenties, while women tend to show signs later in life, in the late twenties or early thirties. Although men and women have similar rates of psychosis and schizophrenia, the manifestation of symptoms is different. Men tend to experience more negative symptoms, while women experience more positive symptoms(4). Negative symptoms:

• Social withdrawals
• Substance use

5. Eating disorders —

Eating disorders are on the rise for men. 1 in 4 individuals diagnosed with eating disorders are men. Among male groups, 15% of Gay or Bisexual men experience an eating disorder (5). 33% of men have used unhealthy mechanisms to try and alter their weight (5). While all eating disorders are on the rise for men, the most common eating disorder found in male groups is Binge Eating Disorder. Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is characterized by individuals engaging in bingeing behaviors with the absence of compensatory behavior (vomiting, exercising, laxative use) after bingeing (5). Out of everyone diagnosed with BED, 40% are male (5).

Other eating disorders affecting males include Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Anorexia Nervosa affects 25% of men; it’s characterized by distorted body image and a severe restriction on nutrition and dietary needs (5). Bulimia Nervosa involves binge eating followed by a compensatory purging behavior (5). This disorder is commonly found in male athletes, and about 70% of male athletes report engaging in some form of compensatory behavior, like exercise (5). Some risk factors for eating disorders include traumatic experiences (often go unreported), bullying, and physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse.

Compensatory behaviors can also become a coping mechanism; studies show that men who experience sexual or physical abuse may try to gain more muscle and change their body image to appear stronger and able to defend themselves; this is often achieved through rigorous exercise (5). Finally, males who play sports are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop eating disorders because of the strict guidelines that normally accompany athleticism (5).

General Coping mechanisms – substance use, reckless, impulsive, and aggressive behaviors.

Risk factors

Loss of employment

Research on different mental health issues men experience indicates common underlying risk factors; a key factor is unemployment or loss of employment. Research shows that unemployment can be a chronic stressor, leading to feelings of redundancy that can cause acute stress. Unemployment is also found to have a greater impact on the mental health of men than women (6).

Divorce + separation

Research underlines that men who experience divorce and separation are 4 times as likely to suffer from depression. This is attributed also to the sense of loss, support, and loss of children as there is a higher probability of children living primarily with the mother. Men also tend to rely on partnership and spousal support as primary emotional support (6).

Paternal Mental Health

Paternal mental health is generally an area of study that is often neglected. While there is limited research on this subject matter, studies show that there are a few common myths and generalizations regarding fathers and their mental health: fathers don’t experience postpartum depression or the empty nest syndrome. It’s reported that about 7% of fathers experience postpartum depression. Additionally, in the first few months of the birth of a child, up to 10% of fathers go through depression, and 15% experience anxiety (7).

Let’s talk about the elephants in the room:

1. Toxic masculinity:

Toxic masculinity is a death machine and affects men’s health in more ways than we may think. There is a gender disparity between the life expectancies of men and women (8). Women do live longer than men because of the prevalence of risk-taking behaviors and employment choices performed by men – both of which are affected by a strict masculine paradigm.

The societal definition of masculinity puts insurmountable pressures on men and causes negative health outcomes:

• Alcohol consumption in 2010, almost twice as many men died from causes linked to alcohol use. Copious alcohol consumption is often linked to masculinity.

• Occupational exposure to hazards that affect physical health.
• Infrequent doctor visits and checkups when ill; not speaking on the full scope of illnesses or symptoms when seen by medical professionals because it does not align with masculinity to actively pursue health and show weakness.
• Higher-risk jobs, such as mining, fishing, construction, and agriculture, employ men more than women (8).

As demonstrated above, masculinity and notions of masculinity are toxic. It is literally causing early death for men. It is a high burden to pay. Aside from the very real implications for male death, pressures to be invulnerable and stoic are the breeding grounds for the behaviors and choices described above. If men were allowed to just exist without these pressures, it would make a better-lived experience for ALL; toxic masculinity affects women as well via femicide, gender-based violence, violence against the trans community, and domestic violence, among many others.

2. Racial disparities:

• Black men are four times more likely to die by suicide than Black women.
• Black men are more likely to experience substance use, homelessness, incarceration, homicide, and suicide – any of these factors can affect mental health.
• Historically, it is common for the Black community to mistrust health professionals due to medical experimentation, mutilation, and racial biases.
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death for Black boys and men ages 15-24 (9).

3. Suicide:

While women attempt suicide more often than men, men are more likely to die by suicide for a few reasons, including methods like using a gun, impulsivity, and showing fewer warning signs because they are less likely to speak on suicidal thoughts (10).

What can we do about it?

Societal level:

• Let’s work to do away with toxic masculinity. Traditionally, men have been pressured to perform a certain way. This manifestation of the patriarchy directly impacts men in such a way that puts pressure to maintain toughness and dominance in domains such as employment and leadership of the family. When these ideas and the paradigm of masculinity fail, this directly negatively impacts men. We must work towards a more inclusive society and widen the spectrum of masculinity so that every boy, young man, and male presenting self individual can feel safe and thrive. In addition, we have to develop a methodology around how different mental health disorders come up for men; for example, it is widely seen that anxiety, the most common disorder experienced by men, is often overlooked due to the way it presents itself. Usually, attitudes and characteristics society forces on men become the symptoms of anxiety: stoic attitude, invulnerability, and no desire to “want to talk about it.”
• Getting rid of implicit bias, especially when working with Black men
• Eliminating traditional roles that put pressure on men to be breadwinners, tough, unmovable, and robotic beings
• Be intentional and strategic about the level and quality of research about mental health, particularly for Black men, the disabled, and those in the carceral system – although these are budding fields, a lot more must be done to bring awareness to nonhegemonic experiences.

Individual level:

Those of us who have men, men-identifying persons, or masculine-presenting individuals can help in several ways:

• Allow individuals to take up space: Let them talk about their feelings, emotions, thoughts, and fears.
• Time allowance: allow for time to gather and manage thoughts, exercise careful consideration, and take as much time as needed.
• Encourage them to make peace with any past mistakes: It is okay not to have it all together or figured out and to come to terms with moments we aren’t proud of.
• Encourage them to hone in on vulnerability and brainstorm ways to relieve pressure, whether on a societal or individual level.
• Stop and take a deep breath: reassurance that everything will be okay.
• Mindfulness techniques: develop grounding mechanisms, such as a body scan, to bring awareness to different parts of the body.
• Journaling: writing down thoughts helps gain some needed and helpful insight into thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
• Practice active listening.

Helpful tools/resources

1. https://www.nami.org/african-american/black-men-and-mental-health-practical-solutions/
2. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/mental-health/mental-health-resources-men
3. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
4. https://headsupguys.org/helpful-links/

CRISIS RESOURCES

If you or someone you know is having a crisis, please do ONE of the following:

• Call or Text: 988
• Call: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat

TIDAL WAVES

This edition’s poem was inspired by the men who have lost the mental health battle in silence. Let’s take a deep breath – inhale, hold for 3 seconds, and exhale.

Men don’t cry

He who stands tall
He who says “don’t worry I got it”
He who you call when you’re scared

Father, brother, friend or lover
who do you turn to when the world is blue?

“be a man”
“men don’t cry”
“toughen up”

These are the mantras boys have been taught for generations.

“just have a drink”
“let’s go to the range”
“this will help numb the pain”

These are the solutions that have been used to bury it.

“he was always so strong”
“he never complained”
“he was always so happy”

These are the words said about the men who took their lives away.

Let’s check in on the men around us before it’s too late!

- She Who Lives

WHO SAID WHAT

“The heart of man is very much like the sea; it has its storms, it has its tides, and in its depths, it has its pearls too.”

– Vincent Van Gogh

DRIFT AWAY

Take a deep breath – inhale, hold for 3 seconds, and exhale. Allow yourself to connect with the passage and share your takeaway with someone you know.

GRILLING

It’s the first day of summer, and my family is getting ready for our first cookout. Mom is making the salads and preparing the vegetables. Dad is marinating the meat and making the burgers. My brother and I are playing with sidewalk chalk and bubbles – it’s a beautiful day, and everything is great!

As we watched Dad turn the grill on, he grabbed a beer and said, “A cold one for the nerves,” followed by a smile. We giggled and played tag. When the burgers were ready, he had five beers and made his famous dad jokes.

Mom came out to prepare the table, and we all sat down and ate together. Dad was quiet, and Mom was telling stories. We helped Mom clean up and went back to playing. Dad went inside and fell asleep on the sofa. Mom was quiet.

Later that night, we overheard Mom and Dad arguing, and soon after, Dad broke down crying. He mentioned that work had been stressful and didn’t know if he could provide for the family. Mom held him and told him that he could only focus on what he could control and trust that everything would be fine.

We ran inside and told him how much we loved him and were proud to have him as our father. We also said that he shouldn’t hold the big feelings in because, eventually, they will eat you from the inside out. He smiled and said he was grateful to have a supportive and loving family.

It was a beautiful day, and everything was great!

Remember, you are enough. You are seen. You are loved. You are heard.

WRITER NOTES

This edition is super special because it was created with the help of a family member who loves to write and wanted to shine a light on Men’s Mental Health. She went the extra mile, broke it down into multiple parts, and provided resources and sources. This topic is important to us because we often hear the men around us saying they don’t feel heard or understood.

We all have a strong man in our lives —or several—but have you ever wondered how they are really holding up? Do they need a hug? Words of encouragement? Or maybe just to vent without judgment? Men often hold everything inside because society has taught them that it’s the only way!

We hope that this blog post has opened your perspective on the men you are surrounded by—remember, they are human, too!

Breathe and stay consistent.

Check out our NEXT Edition to be posted by 07/31

Stay weird and share with a friend to expand our community.

*Disclaimer: We are not Licensed Professionals. We are speaking based on our personal experience with Mental Health. We do not provide Medical Advice. Always consult with a mental professional or other health care provider with any questions regarding topics you have read about on this website.

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