Men's Mental Health: Why it Matters and How Therapy Can Help

Men's Mental Health: Why it Matters and How Therapy Can Help

by Candyce Young, MSEd, MHC-LP

Mental health issues affect everyone—regardless of gender—but men often face unique challenges in how they experience, express, and respond to emotional pain.

For generations, men have been taught that they have to be strong, silent, and show no emotion. “Man up!,” “Don’t cry!,” and “Handle it yourself!” are messages many men hear from a young age. While these cultural norms may seem harmless from the outside, they often encourage men to suppress or bottle up their emotions, avoid vulnerability, and silently endure psychological distress. 

Many wonder if there is a harmful effect? Yes, millions of men are struggling with their mental health in silence. This can lead to depression, anxiety, physical health concerns, and feeling alone in all of it. The impact of following these cultural norms can have devastating impacts on a man's life at home, work, and beyond.

Men’s mental health matters, and therapy can play a critical role in healing, growth, and long-term well-being.

According to global health statistics & the National Institute of Health or (NIH):
-Six million men are affected by depression in the United States
-Men are less likely to seek help for depression, anxiety, or trauma.
-Suicide rates are significantly higher among men than women in most countries.
-Men are more likely to use substances like alcohol or drugs as coping mechanisms.
-Many men struggle with expressing vulnerability due to societal pressure.

Systems in men can also be seen by masking/bottling up emotions where  anger, withdrawal, or overworking—leads to burnout, broken relationships, and mental health crises.

Men Struggle with Asking for Help

​Why don't men reach out for help if they need it? There are several barriers that stop men from accessing mental health support:

Stigma

Seeking therapy is often misinterpreted as a sign of weakness or failure. Based on old-fashioned, outdated cultural norms, they worry that they will be perceived as weak by family, friends, and others. 

Cultural Expectations

Traditional gender roles promote emotional restraint and self-reliance. In social history, it has been believed that men are supposed to be "the rock" and be able to take care of themselves and others. They are not supposed to cry or express sadness.

Fear of Vulnerability

Many men are uncomfortable opening up about personal struggles. This can also be related to the fear of being seen as "weak".

Lack of Awareness

Men may not recognize emotional symptoms or understand that therapy could help. They are often quicker to assume that physical symptoms are due to medical issues rather than triggered by emotional concerns. 

The good news? These barriers can be overcome—starting with open conversations and accessible mental health care.

How Therapy Can Help Men

Therapy isn’t just for “when things get bad.” It’s a proactive tool for improving emotional well-being, strengthening relationships, and gaining clarity about life’s challenges. 

Here's how therapy specifically supports men’s mental health:

1. Understanding Emotions

Therapy helps men identify and understand emotions like anger, sadness, and anxiety—without shame. This emotional literacy leads to healthier coping strategies.

2. Developing Healthy Coping Mechanisms

Rather than bottling up stress or turning to unhealthy habits, therapy equips men with practical tools to manage pressure and navigate life’s challenges.

3. Improving Communication

Many men struggle to express what they feel or need. Therapy enhances communication skills, helping improve relationships with partners, friends, and family.

4. Healing from Trauma

Whether it’s childhood wounds, toxic relationships, or loss, therapy creates a safe space to process and heal from trauma.

5. Breaking Generational Patterns

Men who engage in therapy often discover they are repeating unhelpful patterns modeled by previous generations—and therapy offers the tools to break the cycle.

Society continues to break down the stigma related to therapy in general and therapy for men. By focusing on challenging outdated beliefs about men and mental health, less barriers will exist to keep men from engaging in the mental health care that can benefit them in healing from their past and working towards their goals.

Resource: Chatmon B. N. (2020). Males and Mental Health Stigma. American journal ofmen's health, 14(4), 1557988320949322. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988320949322

About the Author

Candyce Young, MSEd, MHC-LP is a mental health counselor at Healing & Growth Counseling. Candyce is a culturally-informed clinician and takes pride in creating a safe environment for all clients that she works with, including men. She takes specific care in being aware and educated in the topic of men's mental health. She has worked with many people to break down stigma barriers and assist them in processing feelings and achieving their goals.

Interested in learning more about Candyce? Check out her bio here.

Interested in scheduling an appointment with Candyce? Call us at (516) 406-8991 or fill out our Contact Form here.