Men’s Mental Health Awareness: Breaking the Silence
Mental health has become an increasingly important topic in recent years, yet the mental health of men often remains under-discussed, overlooked, or dismissed. Growing up in an environment where emotional expression was absent, I have witnessed first-hand how damaging silence and suppression can be. My experience is, unfortunately, not unique, but it illustrates the broader challenges faced by many men across society.
I grew up in a household where conflict was frequent and affection was scarce. My mother, who endured physical and emotional abuse, became my only mentor and source of strength. I remember vividly the day I broke my leg: my father left within fifteen minutes to attend a poetry competition, while my mother spent eight nights sleeping on a small bench at the hospital to ensure I was not alone. Experiences such as these shaped my understanding of resilience, but they also left lasting gaps. Even now, I sometimes struggle to know how to respond to others’ emotions, how to comfort someone in distress, or how to smile without forcing it.
While these memories are deeply personal, they reflect a widespread reality. Across the world, men are often socialised to equate vulnerability with weakness, to mask their pain, and to endure silently. Cultural expectations, reinforced over generations, leave many men without the emotional tools or supportive networks they need. Too often, this silence leads to isolation, depression, or destructive behaviours. The statistics are stark: in the United Kingdom, approximately 75% of suicides are men, making suicide the leading cause of death for men under 50.
Barriers to Men’s Mental Health
Several interconnected barriers prevent men from addressing their mental health:
- Cultural Expectations: From an early age, boys are taught that crying or asking for help is a sign of weakness.
- Generational Cycles: Many fathers who never received or expressed emotional support replicate the same patterns with their own children.
- Social Isolation: Men are less likely to form deep, supportive friendships and more likely to face difficulties in seeking professional support.
- Lack of Role Models: Gentle, emotionally intelligent figures are rare, leaving many men with few examples of how to balance strength with vulnerability.
The Impact of Silence
The consequences of this silence are profound. Men who cannot openly process their struggles often experience deteriorating mental health, strained relationships, and reduced academic or professional engagement. The inability to articulate or share emotions perpetuates feelings of shame and inadequacy, further discouraging help-seeking behaviour.
In my own case, I have often relied on the phrase “This too shall pass” as a means of survival. While this mindset has enabled perseverance, it reflects the broader tendency among men to endure difficulties quietly rather than to seek constructive support.
Loneliness and Isolation
When I came to the UK, I hoped for new beginnings. Instead, I found myself alone again. No friends to hang out with in the evenings, no one to call when the weight of everything felt too heavy. It was just me, my phone, and my thoughts. Loneliness became my closest companion.
This isolation is not unique to me. Research shows that men are far less likely than women to form deep, supportive friendships. A 2019 YouGov poll found that 1 in 5 men admitted to having no close friends, compared to 1 in 10 women. For international students in particular, this loneliness is compounded by cultural differences, distance from family, and the absence of familiar support systems.
The Broader Picture: Why Men Struggle in Silence
My story may feel unique, but the statistics show it is part of a larger pattern:
- Three-quarters of suicides in the UK are male (ONS, 2023).
- Suicide is the leading cause of death among men under 50.
- Men are less likely to access psychological therapies compared to women, with only 36% of NHS referrals being male (NHS Digital).
- Many men report feeling ashamed to ask for help, equating vulnerability with weakness.
These numbers are not just data points they represent fathers, sons, brothers, and friends who felt they had no space to express their pain.
The Cost of Silence
Silence is not neutral it is destructive. Men who bottle up their emotions often turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms: aggression, substance abuse, overworking, or total withdrawal. For me, silence became a survival strategy. The phrase “This too shall pass” kept me moving forward, but it also meant suppressing what I truly felt. While it provided endurance, it left scars in how I relate to others.
For many men, this silent endurance leads to broken relationships, poor academic or professional performance, and in the worst cases, suicide. The cost of unspoken suffering is measured in both lives lost and lives half-lived.
Towards Solutions
Addressing men’s mental health requires a collective and cultural shift. It is not enough to tell men to “speak up”; society must create the conditions in which speaking up is safe and encouraged.
- Normalising Vulnerability: Campaigns, education, and role models should affirm that acknowledging difficulties is a sign of humanity, not weakness.
- Education and Awareness: Emotional literacy should be embedded within schools and universities to equip young people with tools for healthy self-expression.
- Visible Role Models: Showcasing men who embody compassion and emotional intelligence helps redefine masculinity.
- Accessible Support: Institutions must ensure that mental health resources are approachable, affordable, and stigma-free.
- Challenging Stereotypes: Redefining strength as resilience built on honesty, rather than silence, will help break cycles of harm.
Conclusion
Men’s mental health is both an individual and societal issue. My story reflects only one experience within a wider crisis: countless men grow up without learning how to show love, how to seek help, or how to share their emotions. The consequences of silence are deadly, but silence is not inevitable.
We must move towards a culture where men are empowered to express vulnerability, where mental health is supported openly, and where compassion is valued alongside resilience. Only then will the phrase “This too shall pass” become less about silent endurance and more about shared healing and genuine hope.
If you are in need of mental health support please reach out to one of the below organisations:
