Several barriers impede men’s willingness to seek and benefit from mental healthcare. These barriers are concerning, considering the alarming and increasing epidemics of suicide, substance use, and problematic coping styles among men (Seidler et al., 2016; Bilsker et al., 2018; Seidler et al., 2019).
#James Donaldson 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 Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Dominant masculine ideals, often involving stoicism, independence, strength, and control
Poor mental health knowledge, which can manifest as difficulty communicating or recognizing a need for psychological help
Societal and self-stigma, which can cause shame about being seen as weak, discomfort with emotional disclosure, and problem minimization
Atypical symptom expression (male depressive syndrome), which isn’t adequately captured in current diagnostic criteria
Clinician biases, stereotypes, and discomfort due to rigid assumptions regarding common male behaviors and responses
Lack of men-centered services.
Montgomery et al. (2011) advocated a need for men-centered care after finding that fathers with mental health concerns and troublesome social conditions had poorer health outcomes. A decade later, Vassallo et al. (2021) concluded similarly after gender-sensitized strategies for men successfully reduced problematic masculine messages of self-reliance and interpersonal dominance.
Multicultural Factors in Men’s Mental Health
Men from minority communities may experience additional sociocultural barriers that further decrease the likelihood of seeking mental health services. At times, men from minority communities could be expected to develop their own solutions when expressing problems to loved ones, lest they jeopardize security and respect in their family unit or roles of authority, work, and leisure. This can hinder their capacity to communicate thoughts, emotions, and bodily disturbances in a healthy, constructive way.
Other relevant sociocultural factors men in marginalized groups face include stigma from their culture of origin, mistrust in public health authority due to histories of systemic discrimination and/or racism, spiritual/religious barriers whereby mental health disorders are conflated with exclusively spiritual concerns, narrow masculine ideals/standards (i.e., machismo in Latin American culture; mental illness as weakness in some Asian communities), and believing their voice or perspective does not matter.
Four Strategies to Support a Man’s Mental Health
Lend an ear. Recognized that your interactions with the men in your life matter. Your willingness to listen, understand, and dedicate space for men to be vulnerable, mess up, and learn are integral to helping them develop, cope, and become better fathers, husbands, leaders, workers, and citizens of the world.
Recognize effort with thoughtful affirmation and recognition. We all long to be appreciated. Men often do not feel appreciated unless they are sacrificing and suffering for the sake of others, especially those closest to them. Be willing to recognize and verbalize good efforts, psychological growth, and positive qualities in the men in your life. Encourage them. Limit unnecessary criticism.
Collaborate to solve problems. When you lend ears and give recognition, you may better empathize and understand the mind/perspective of the person. While this may not eliminate identified concerns, it may facilitate a united front against psychological troubles. In addition, a collaborative spirit can decrease loneliness and boost self-confidence and esteem.
Get more minds on the case. If a man in your life is troubled by things that go beyond your capacity to help, you might honor the importance of his health by seeking professional guidance. Having “more minds” on a case can bring forth new ideas, fresh perspectives, and innovative solutions to managing life’s problems.
The road to more effective and accessible mental healthcare for men is worth traveling. A dedicated month to honor men’s mental health is a step towards awareness and inclusivity. And yet, mental health knows no calendar. Continuing to elicit discussion with men about their mental health in a nonjudgmental, curious way should be a year-round mission, and more important, an everyday task.
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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:
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
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