The month of June is observed as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month and June 10-16 is celebrated as International Men’s Health Week. The objective is not only to raise awareness but to also encourage men to seek professional help.

We are almost halfway through the month of June, but does it feel as though our men are being given the spotlight? Recently, I shared on CVM TV that not much is being done for our men. If it were a month dedicated to women empowerment, there would be many fora, conferences, and media attention given to uplifting them, which is not a criticism but an obvious observation. But who looks out for our men? It is clear that we have to take charge of our own empowerment and support each other. Men unite for sports, video games, cars, and money, but when it comes to our mental and emotional health, we are often told to “man up”. This expression means to adopt a stereotypically masculine approach or course of action to a situation.

Our society generally expects men to have life together all the time. When experiencing pressure, men are told to “tough it out” or “hold it”, because breaking down is a sign of weakness and it is seemingly effeminate. Given the manner in which many men were cultured, they would rather suffer internally as opposed to expressing their feelings and releasing the associated tensions. Consequently, several of them have built-up anger and are very aggressive, even in the slightest of situations. This goes in tandem with their lack of communication and interpersonal skills.

Many men struggle to decompartmentalise their problems and communicate them effectively. But this is partly due to the fear of being judged or described as a “sissy”. Nevertheless, men do need spaces to express themselves without being ridiculed. Globally, statistics show that men are more reluctant to talk about their mental health than women and are more likely to die by suicide than their female counterparts. Irrespective of race, ethnicity, and income range, men often avoid seeking help for their psycho-emotional needs. The World Health Organization reports that men die by suicide at twice the rate of women, and high-income countries have alarming rates of suicide among men.

Situational stressors play a vital role in suicidal deaths among men, even though many may not have a documented history of mental illness. These stressors encompass relationship troubles and arguments. Daily, men find themselves grappling with the prescriptive, antiquated code about gender, and this struggle can contribute to their mental health issues.

Studies also show that the lack of adequate money can terribly affect men’s mental health and many display their distress in culturally acceptable ways. This could be in the form of substance abuse, such as smoking and the consumption of alcohol and drugs, such as molly, but substance abuse can exacerbate their issues and put them at risk for other health conditions.

It is evident that more and better mental health education is needed. We need to reshape the mentality surrounding men’s emotional health and create spaces in which men can freely discuss their issues without judgement. Our women should also support and encourage men to improve their communication skills.

As International Men’s Health Week culminates with Father’s Day on Sunday, June 16, it is appropriate to acknowledge the fathers who continue to show up for their families. Continue to be the loving, caring, and sacrificial dads you are. Understandably, fatherhood is not just providing financial support, it is also being present emotionally and spiritually. Our society would be a better place if we had fewer sperm donors. Too many women are left to parent alone.

May this year serve as a Macedonian call — like that received by the apostle Paul — for those absent fathers to get involved in their children’s lives.

Happy Father’s Day!

maddenoniel@yahoo.com