JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Rob Whitley, Ph.D.
Two contradictory yet insistent messages can damage men’s mental health.
This week is “Men’s Health Week,” an annual event initiated by Senator Bob Dole to bring attention to the oft-ignored issues surrounding #men’s #health. One of these overlooked issues is #men’s #mentalhealth, which remains a major concern to health advocates worldwide.
One issue that demands urgent discussion is what I call the “#men’s #mentalhealth double-bind.”
Double-Bind
A double-bind refers to a simple psychological concept, whereby an individual or group regularly receives two contradictory yet insistent messages, with each message negating the other. An example of a double-bind is a parent constantly telling a child, “you should show me more physical affection,” but then reacting negatively when the child attempts any physical contact.
Double-binds are logically impossible to resolve. As such, they can be emotionally distressing and cognitively confusing for those on the receiving end. In short, some research shows that double-binds can have a damaging effect on the #mentalhealth of vulnerable people.
“#Men, Please Talk More”
Men experience elevated rates of numerous #mentalhealthissues including #suicide and substance use disorder while showing low rates of #mentalhealthservice utilization and a tendency to bottle-up. This has led many scholars to posit a silent crisis of #men’s #mentalhealth.
Consequently, many #mentalhealth organizations and high-profile individuals are sending out an insistent message that men must talk more about their #mentahealth. Even royalty has endorsed this message, with HRH Prince William stating in a recent documentary that we need to “pass the message onto men everywhere that it’s okay to talk about #mentalhealth…and be able to talk about our emotions.”
Fine words indeed.
“#Men, Please Shut Up”
However, other individuals and organizations are sending out a completely different message, namely that men as a group need to remain silent and “check their privilege.” As wryly noted by Bloomberg journalist Ramesh Ponnuru “check your privilege means shut your mouth.”
Such messages can be seen all over the Internet, with pleas for #men to shut-up or stop whining. Of note, these pleas come from both #men and #women. These echo comments men often hear in face-to-face interactions, even from their intimates and their employers.
Indeed, such perspectives can emanate from high places, including the U.S. Senate, with Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono recently stating, “I just want to say to the men in this country: just shut up and step up. Do the right thing for a change.” For some, #male silence is a sign of moral rectitude.
This situation creates a #men’s #mentalhealth double-bind. On the one hand, #men are being told to talk more and open-up; on the other hand, #men are being told to check their privilege and be silent. This can only create cognitive and emotional distress.
Interestingly, the #men’s #mentalhealth double-bind manifests itself beyond the borders of the U.S. As such, examples from the U.K and Canada are given below to illustrate its global nature.
#Men’s Issues Groups
Numerous groups have attempted to organize discussions about issues affecting #men’s #mentalhealth. These are sometimes met with hostility.
For example, a group of #male and #female students at Ryerson University created a men’s issues group, holding events to discuss #men’s #mentalhealth. This group was refused official status by Ryerson University’s Student Union on numerous occasions, with members being s#tigmatized and abused by some campus activists, as seen in the CBC TV report below.
Likewise, other groups have invited well-known #mentalhealth scholars as guest speakers, with unforeseen consequences. For example, the University of Toronto Men’s Issues Society invited Dr. Warren Farrell to talk about #men’s #mentalhealthissues, but his lecture was met with violence and vandalism by protesters who tried to shut down the event.
The wider social message may be encouraging #men to talk more, but #men are often facing local situations where they are being implicitly told to shut-up, check their privilege and talk less. This double-bind may be especially present on university campuses.
British Psychological Society #Male Psychology Group
Several British psychologists recently formed a male psychology group offering public lectures, a website, a newsletter, and a social space to discuss #men’s #mentalhealth issues (full disclosure: I am a member).
As the group grew, the leadership applied for the group to be recognized as an official section of the British Psychological Society (BPS). This would require a vote from the whole BPS membership.
Bizarrely, this was opposed by an organized group entitled “No to Male Psychology,” which campaigned for a no vote. In the resultant ballot, over 4,000 BPS members voted, with two-thirds in favour of the new section. This was welcome news, but it cannot go unnoticed that 30 percent of BPS members who voted did not want a male psychology section.
Undaunted, the newly recognized BPS Male Psychology Section is going from strength to strength, and later this month will be holding a Men’s Mental Health conference in London. Keynote speakers include Jackie Doyle-Price, the UK Minister of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, as well as Member (elect) of the European Parliament, Martin Daubney.
Thankfully, there are still some influential people who are willing to walk the talk when it comes to #men’s #mentalhealthissues.
The Way Ahead
In a free society, everybody has the right to possess and express opinions about #men’s #mentalhealth, even if such opinions are stigmatizing.
That said, health advocates must note that #men’s #mentalhealth double-bind has nefarious consequences for vulnerable #men in need of support.
Simply telling #men to talk more will have a limited impact while significant voices are telling #men to talk less and check their privilege. This double-bind needs to be recognized as a social determinant of #men’s #mentalhealth.
Indeed, addressing this double-bind should be considered a #mentalhealth promotion strategy. As such, health advocates must engage in robust debate with those who discourage #men from talking.
Otherwise, the well-meaning exhortations from HRH Prince William and others for #men to talk about their #mentalhealth become empty platitudes.
We can not have it both ways.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
