Men’s Mental Health Matters To All Australians

Studies conducted all over the world through various ethnicities showed that men are less likely to seek help for their behavioural or mental health issues like depression and anxiety.  Aussie men are no different. Men’s reluctance to talk about their problems often makes life more difficult for them and for those around them.

Can Masculine Men Have It All Wrong?

According to the American Psychological Association research is trying to understand the psychology of masculinity and what drives them away from seeking therapy and why a large percentage of women are quick to seek the help of a counsellor to help them cope with life’s ups and downs.

Reasons Men Might Not Seek Help

• Out of touch with their emotions
• Their perceptions of masculinity could get in the way – Traditional masculinity ideology. Fear of not being seeing as a man
• Raised not to experience or show vulnerability – See emotions as weakness as they are also raised to be tough, independent and in control
• Fear that their peers and society will look down at them for seeking help
• Stigma around mental health
• Fear of losing employment
• Feeling uncomfortable to share problems with others due to shame

The emotional problems experienced by women are fundamentally the same problems faced by men. However, two thirds of all mental health outpatients are women.

Men are more likely to hold off seeking the help of a mental health professional until reaching a crisis point in their life. In Australia the suicide rates for men in 2013 was three times higher than that for women.

Common Issues Faced By Men

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Relationship problems
• Health Issues
• Loss of confidence
• Stress at work
• Fear losing job
• Conflicts with manager at work
• Traumatic incident
• Career concerns
• Anger management

Nicholas Marks CEO of aifc was interviewed on Rhema 99.7 FM Radio in Newcastle speaking on Men’s Mental Health and how crucial it is for men to seek help.

Have a listen.

The Right Attitude Towards Mental Health

1. Acknowledge that mental health problems affect both men and women.
2. Get help as soon as possible. Don’t delay. Prevent problems from escalating into bigger challenges.
3. Counselling and psychological help increases your strength and ability to cope.
4. Getting help can equip you with skills to be a parent, a spouse or partner. Anger management can be learnt to improve your life and the lives of those around you.
5. We need to look after our mental, physical and spiritual health as it all goes hand in hand for our entire wellbeing as a whole person.

How Counselling Can Help Men & Women

Seeking help is not a sign of weakness but instead it’s admitting to the fact that we’re all human. Getting help can provide solutions for situations in life we don’t always have the answers for. It may mean that we cope better with life, improve our mental health leading to a better quality of life for us and for those who are closest to us.  When our bodies get sick we don’t feel whole and seek the help of a medical professional to bring that balance back into our lives. When we can carry burdens that weigh us down mentally and emotionally affecting others around us at home and even our work life, men and women are urged to seek help and to talk to a trained professional when needed.

Mark 8:36 – For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Sources

Lea Wineman – American Psychological Association
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Why do men not seek help
Rhema 99.7 FM Radio in Newcastle

Studying at aifc

Have you thought about counselling?   It’s a great opportunity to learn how you can extend God’s love and grace to the hurting out in the community.

Discover the CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling. Our courses are contextualised so they don’t contradict the bible.