Talking about mental health is the first step to eliminating the negative stereotype around it — but for men, this can be particularly challenging.
Approximately 6 million American men have depression each year, yet research shows many are reluctant to disclose their mental illness symptoms and are averse to seeking treatment. This is a dangerous trend considering mental health issues have the potential to lead to suicide — an act that results in more than 40,000 deaths in the United States each year.
As part of our ShameOver men’s mental health initiative, we asked several men to share their stories about depression, anxiety and mental illness stigma. Their answers are an honest insight into what it’s really like to deal with mental health issues in a society where “being a man” is equated with “being tough” — and “being tough” is equated with being silent.
Take a look at their stories in the video above — because there’s nothing emasculating about sharing your feelings.