It’s no secret that #men are struggling with their #mentalhealth, within Canada and around the world.
International Men’s Day, which occurs annually on Nov. 19, aims to shed light on the #mentalhealth problems faced by #men by encouraging conversation and offer possible solutions.
According to the agency, men have a #suicide rate that is three times higher than #women.
READ MORE: 28 per cent of men believe they could lose their job if they discuss mental health at work: study
These rates skyrocket for Canadian Indigenous men. The #suicide rate for Indigenous #men ages 15 to 24 is 126 per 100,000, compared to 24 per 100,000 non-Indigenous #men.
Overall, #men are likely to die an average of four to five years before #women.
“#Men die by #suicide more than any other group, and these realities must be addressed,” Fardous Hosseiny told Global News. He’s the interim national chief executive officer of the Canadian #MentalHealth Association (CMHA).6:25 The importance of #mentalhealth and wellness of babies and young kids The importance of #mentalhealth and wellness of babies and young kids
“Instead of talking about #stress or trying to seek help for their #depression, men will often mask their #stress and deal with their #depression through harmful behaviours and actions.”
There are four main risk factors that contribute to men’s #mentalhealth: alcohol and drug abuse, social isolation, a tendency to choose more lethal methods of #suicide and reluctancy to seek help.
#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
Reluctancy to seek help
In Hosseiny’s view, it’s too simplistic to say that #women are more willing to share their problems, while #men tend to “bottle them up.”
“But it is true that, for generations, many societies have encouraged #men to be ‘strong’ and not admit they’re struggling,” he said.
“We condition #boys from a very young age to not express emotion, because to express emotion is to be ‘weak.’”TWEET THIS
When boys grow older, their understanding of what it means to be a “man” is intimately intertwined with notions of stoicism and extreme endurance.
“The slightest show of vulnerability is seen as a blemish on their manhood,” said Hosseiny.
“The tragedy inherent in the socialization is that, behind every ‘whiner,’ ‘wimp’ or ‘wuss’ lies a conditioned reluctance to face #stress and possible #depression and #suicide.”
READ MORE: Men struggle to keep friends — and it’s hurting their #mentalhealth
This, in part, could be caused by how parents condition their children to respond in times of #stress, #anxiety or sadness.
“There are differences in how we talk to our children and how we encourage them to communicate about themselves,” he said.
“Mothers talk way more to their girl children than their boy children, and they share and identify feelings more.”
#Boys and #men are treated differently when they ask for help
Part of the reason #men continue to die by #suicide in such large numbers could also be that they are treated differently than #women when they ask for help.
New research by the Movember Foundation found that #men still struggle to talk about #mentalhealth in the workplace for fear of losing their job.
Researchers at Ipsos MORI surveyed 1,000 Canadian men between the ages of 18 and 75, and found similar results. Lack of friendships impacts men’s #mentalhealth — here’s how to deal with it Lack of friendships impacts #men’s #mentalhealth — here’s how to deal with it
Twenty-eight per cent of Canadian #men said they believed their job could be at risk if they discuss #mentalhealthissues at work, and more than 33 per cent of #men worry they could be overlooked for a promotion if they mention a problem.
As well, 42 per cent of #men surveyed said they are also worried about colleagues making negative comments behind their backs.
“Traditionally, a man’s role has been centered around employment and being productive and having work as a core source of their life and purpose,” Dr. Ashley Bender previously told Global News. She’s an occupational psychiatrist and professor at the University of Toronto.
READ MORE: Suicide rates among Canadian women are rising faster than men. It’s unclear why
If a #man comes forward with #mentalhealth concerns and his job is threatened, it can leave him feeling isolated and like he’s lost part of himself.
This can contribute to higher rates of #anxiety and #depression, as well as #suicide. According to Bender, workplaces need to concretely commit to change in the way it supports people with #mentalhealth concerns — and then make sure those changes happen.
“Attempts to change attitudes by creating awareness but then providing inadequate resources (like low coverage for psychological treatments) says, ‘We’re acknowledging that we have a problem, but we don’t care,’” she said. “That drives people into silence, because what’s the point?”
Ways to prevent #suicide
In trying to lower #suicide rates for #men, Hosseiny says there needs to be a total shift in the cultural paradigm that “addresses the issue of masculinity in our culture.”
“Our society needs to take collective responsibility in redefining what it means to be a man,” he said.“It’s OK to reach out for help, it’s OK to say [you’re] struggling. Reaching out and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.”1:105 ways cancer can impact #mentalhealth 5 ways cancer can impact #mentalhealth
In the meantime, a wider variety of ways to access help and support need to become available. For example, leveraging technology might be a way to help men who want to remain anonymous.
“Not everyone may want to unburden themselves to another person, even over a helpline. Online approaches for most men work much better,” Hosseiny said.
“We need to give them a mechanism to find out answers on their own before they’re ready to seek help.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency, please call 911 for immediate help.
The Canadian Association for #SuicidePrevention, #Depression Hurts and Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 all offer ways of getting help if you, or someone you know, may be suffering from #mentalhealth issues.
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
[email protected]
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 [email protected] 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
