Spotlight On...Men's Mental Health

In 2019, MIND's Report Get it off your chest found that 43% - or two in five men - regularly experience negative wellbeing, an increase of 6% since 2009 (MIND, 2019). These findings are replicated with other research across the UK, and the Mental Health Foundation reported that men are not as likely to access psychological therapies, with only 36% of referrals for talking treatments in the NHS being accessed by men (Mental Health Foundation; Smith et al., 2013). Statistics show that men are significantly more likely to attempt suicide and this is the largest cause of death of men under 50 in the UK (Mental Health Foundation).

The need for open conversations about men's mental health, the impacts which can influence this, what communities can do to provide meaningful and inclusive support and how we can challenge mental health stigma is essential. On Monday 10 October 2022, we will host our next Spotlight On Mental Health event focusing on Men's Mental Health.

This page contains information regarding the upcoming panel discussion, a review of literature on men’s mental health and some contextualised support resources. Later it will also host further resources established from the panel discussion including a recording of the event.

Santander Universities is generously supporting GCU’s Spotlight On Mental Health series. Their much-valued funding will help support a programme of talks and podcasts designed to tackle mental health and wellbeing through open and authentic discussion.

Panel discussion on men's mental health: Monday, 10 October

Resources for men's mental health

Hosted by a group of male students, sharing their own experiences to help eliminate stigma, raise awareness, and signpost others to finding the help they need. Created in association with Student Minds and funded by Comic Relief, Changing MENtality is a series of conversations, stories and interviews on the topic of men’s mental health.

Student Space offer a range of wellbeing resources accessible to GCU students. (Please note the external directory for referrals only holds information for English and Welsh services but online support resources are available to GCU students).

The Hub from Think Positive about Student Mental Health offers a one-stop-shop for student mental health in Scotland. You can search for services, projects, resources and news that you can trust

A review of literature on men's mental health

Written by GCU Doctorate student Nadav Ephrat

The social discourse and promotion of mental health has been a subject of rigorous academic investigation over the last three decades. However, the great majority of the research has historically placed much greater investigative focus on the female population (Whitely, 2018).
Consequently, mental health research only began integrating male participants and investigating this population specifically in the last decade (Baerlocher & Verma, 2008). This presented a significant barrier to the implementation of mental health support resources. (Smith et al., 2013). For example, the lack of academic research around this topic meant that pertinent information such as that one in eight men experiences mental health problems, was inaccessible and hence could not be taken into account and this then hindered the ability to assess the severity of this concerning issue (Baker, 2016).
Another challenge which emerged for several reasons, amongst them the lack of academic literature, was that mental health services and resources were under-sought and utilised by men. The literature indicates men comprise only 30% of the individuals who seek support through mental health services (Smith et al., 2013). The reluctance to seek mental health support when experiencing emotional challenges decreases even further for younger men between the ages of 16 and 24, out of which merely 13% pursue any form of support services (Ellis et al., 2013).
One of the most prevalent maladaptive coping mechanisms men tend to utilise is substance abuse, it was found that up to three-quarters of substance abuse disorder incidences are reported as male users (Navaneelan, 2012).
Facilitating an open, inclusive and unstigmatized discussion around men’s mental health is imperative, as its avoidance through various aspects such as shame and concerns regarding social exclusion are just some of the factors which affect the disproportional suicide rates in men, which comprise three-quarters of total suicide cases (Chachamovich et al., 2015).
A societal element which adversely affects mental health, particularly in the male population is gender norms. To maintain and conform to the socially expected image of a masculine persona, men tend to underestimate and underplay the gravity of their mental health difficulties and their potential detrimental effects, which consequently impede self-disclosure around this topic when they meet health care professionals (Wong et al., 2017).
By interweaving and more routinely integrating an honest discussion about mental health in the various arenas the male population encounter throughout life, (especially male dominant ones) individuals can gradually change and adapt those dysfunctional, traditional and outdated misconceptions and thus avert insufficiently processed and inadequately managed distressing difficulties (Bilsker et al., 2018).
An initial disclosure regarding your mental health, even one which is limited due to lack of comfort to share, can play a significant part in facilitating greater capacity for self-care and alleviate discomfort around this subject and thus should not be underestimated (Seidler et al., 2018).
A direct effect of the disinclination to disclose personal emotional challenges means that health care professionals are less likely to accurately diagnose anxiety and depression-related symptoms amongst men and hence be able to suggest suitable support resources to those wellbeing-eroding symptoms (Jutel, 2014; Seaton et al., 2017).
Online support services have shown a promising avenue for individuals that might feel any concerns regarding self-disclosure by their ability to offer a greater extent of accessibility and confidentiality, amongst other benefits (Rickwood et al., 2015; Ellison et al., 2021). Another effective step that can be taken can be trying to facilitate a safe and comfortable environment for a friend to express themselves and their struggles more freely (Lynch et al., 2018).
In conclusion, this brief summary about men’s mental health was aimed to increase societal awareness concerning this paramount aspect. By raising awareness around this subject and how its neglect can potentially result in harmful consequences, the aim is not to downplay the mental health difficulties experienced by women, or suggest this population does not deserve the same careful attention, but rather to shed more light and facilitate a broader discussion about the manifold barriers which can be particular to men, such as factors as masculine gender roles which can affect the likelihood of help-seeking (Seaton et al., 2017).
Providing psychoeducation and disseminating that knowledge in a tailor-fitted manner in universities and in academic studies remains a crucial step in supporting students’ mental health and thus should be maintained regularly (Yorgason et al., 2008).