BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) -June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, a time to encourage men dealing with physical or mental health challenges to seek help from a medical professional.
Experts say many men are more likely to suffer in silence rather than reach out for support, especially when it comes to mental health.
Dr. Shawn Brown with the Department of Psychiatry at Med Center Health said toxic masculinity and the stigma surrounding mental health often prevent men from speaking up or seeking help when they need it most.
“Unfortunately, historically, it’s also been very much instilled that to ask for help is not being strong,” Brown said. “And that has kind of warped into some very negative patterns of not getting help when it’s needed. And hence the problems we’re dealing with still today, the stigma.”
Brown said fear of judgment from family and friends keeps many men from seeking medical attention.
“I think it’s more of a just a general fear response of being judged by their family, by their friends,” he said. “And a lot of it is really unnecessary. But again, they are taught that they don’t ask for help, that they deal with their own problems. And unfortunately, that’s what leads to those numbers in terms of the higher rates of suicide, decreased lifespans, decreased quality of life, just because of this concept that’s been kind of forced upon them.”
According to Brown, warning signs include isolating themselves, lack or too much sleep, and a loss of appetite.
His message to family members who think a loved one may be struggling is simple.
“Don’t talk at them, talk to them,” Brown said. “Ask them how they’re doing. Ask them about the things they’ve been noticing and their behaviors. Let them know that they can help them, that they can trust them.”
Brown said the best place to combat these issues is to speak with an insurance provider about what resources they offer or join a men’s mental health group.
According to experts, seeking psychiatric help can be one of the cheaper options with many avenues to afford the help.
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