How do you encourage men to talk about their mental health?
There is a myth that men are silently stubborn and do not want to talk about their mental health.
In fact, research suggests that many men are willing to talk about their mental health, but are simply waiting for the right conditions.
There are many helpful measures that concerned individuals can take to facilitate mental health conversations with men.
These procedures are unknown and may be used to help male family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and other suffering men.
Many of us know men with mental health issues. It could be a close family member, such as a husband, son, father or brother. It can also be a friend, colleague, neighbor or other person.
Some of these men may have been diagnosed with a separate mental disorder, such as depression. Other men may have an undiagnosed mental disorder, or with other existential problems including feelings of loneliness, bereavement, fatigue, or other psychosocial stressors.
It is a myth that men do not like to talk about their mental health. In fact, many men with mental health issues are eager for the opportunity to talk about their challenges, and are particularly interested in learning from others about possible solutions.
However, men are often very anxious and unwilling to reveal too much about their mental health issues for various reasons, including:
They wonder if anyone will listen to them and give them the time of day
The discomfort of burdening another person with personal issues
Fear of stigma, judgment, ostracism and ridicule
Measures that can be used to help men talk about their mental health
Given this situation, there are many helpful measures that concerned individuals can take to facilitate conversations with men who may be experiencing mental health issues.
Choose a joint activity
Much research indicates the importance of relying on the indirect approach (rather than the direct approach) when trying to facilitate conversations with men about their mental health. In other words, sitting face-to-face and asking directly, "Do you have mental health issues?" Not always the best approach.
Instead, a growing body of research shows that men are more likely to talk about their mental health while conducting a joint activity where the explicit purpose has nothing to do with mental health. This "health incognito" approach may be particularly useful if the chosen activity has some personal meaning and may be related to introspection and reflection.
There are many surprising joint activities that can facilitate conversation about mental health in men, including fishing, exploring urban heritage sites (for example, churches, museums or galleries), a walk in the woods, or a long trip through farmland Or nature or wilderness.
Choose a shoulder-to-shoulder approach
A key component of all the activities described above is that they occur shoulder to shoulder rather than head-on. This has been identified in the research literature as a critical factor in facilitating discussion of mental health among struggling men.
In fact, many men report discomfort in a traditional face-to-face encounter, in which men feel that they are fake, like they are in a job interview. Instead, many enjoy shoulder-to-shoulder activities instinctively, as the joint activity would not feel burdensome if the conversation turned to mental health.
Interestingly, such activity has been identified as a critical component of men's mental health programs, whose motto contains a lot of wisdom: "Men don't talk face to face, they talk shoulder to shoulder."
Use non-medical language
Much research indicates the importance of using male-friendly language and concepts when trying to facilitate discussions about men's mental health. In general, this means avoiding the official language of psychiatry. This language is alien to many men, who would also fear stigma and public rejection if they were given psychological labels.
Alternatively, some exciting new research suggests that reformulating treatment and mental health interventions as “programs,” “courses,” “mental fitness workshops,” “brain training,” or “brain coaching” makes such treatment and interventions more attractive to many. . men.
What this means in practice is that using these positive terms may be most helpful when starting a conversation about mental health with a man. For example, instead of saying, "I think you're clinically depressed, you need to see a psychiatrist," it might be better to say, "There are some great programs nearby that can sharpen your mental flexibility."
Conclusion
Research suggests that many men are willing to talk about their mental health, but are simply waiting for the right conditions.
For a man, it might be a long journey with his wife. On the other hand, it may be a fishing trip with his father. Or a visit to a museum or houses of worship.
Taking the initiative to bring up such issues with a male family member, friend, neighbor or colleague is a bold move, and starting conversations about mental health is never easy. But such conversations are essential to ensuring healthy individuals, healthy families, and healthy communities.
