ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT: Men's Mental Health: A Silent Crisis

In this article spotlight, hear from Dr. Rob Whitley as he unpacks the silent crisis suffered by men. If you or a loved one need counseling for men’s needs, please contact us to set up an appointment. 940-241-4140

“Men's Mental Health: A Silent Crisis — An exploration of factors behind high rates of mental health problems in men.”

Numerous researchers have recently stated that there is a silent crisis in men’s mental health. This is based on robust evidence that men have high rates of various mental health issues.

These include elevated rates of suicide and substance abuse, as well as low rates of mental health service use. Sadly, male gender often intersects with other variables to produce even higher rates in some sub-groups.

Suicide

Men make up over 75 percent of suicide victims in the United States, with one man killing himself every 20 minutes. Men living in small towns and rural areas have particularly high rates of suicide. Indeed, flyover states such as Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico and Utah have the highest rates of suicide in the country. Alaska also has very high rates.

This has been attributed to various factors. One factor is the massive decline in traditional male industries such as manufacturing, forestry and fisheries, leaving large swathes of men in certain regions unemployed or under-employed.

In the current economy, many men are finding it difficult to fulfill a breadwinner role, leaving them without a powerful sense of pride, purpose and meaning in life.

Very high rates have been observed in veterans, young American Indians and gay men. A common factor among these groups may be perceived (or real) rejection from mainstream society, leading to strong feelings of alienation and isolation. These factors are explored in the poignant video below about low-income men struggling after divorce.

Substance abuse

Substance use is a predominantly male problem, occurring at a rate of 3 to 1 in comparison to females. Substance abuse is sometimes referred to as "slow-motion suicide," given that it can often end in a premature death for the person concerned.

Research indicates that many men engage in substance abuse in response to stressful life transitions including unemployment and divorce. Indeed, almost 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. Many men report negative experience in family courts, with data suggesting that only about 1 in 6 men have custody of their children, often with minimal visitation rights.

This separation and loss can be soul-destroying for the men concerned, again leaving them isolated and alienated from mainstream society. As such, substance abuse may be a maladaptive response to a malevolent situation.

Again high rates of substance abuse are observed in certain sub-groups, including veterans as well as American Indians, implying the need for targeted interventions in these groups.

…” Continue Reading
- By Dr. Rob Whitley | Originally published 2/06/2017 on Psychologytoday.com

ARE YOU SEEKING HELP WITH MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH, ANXIETY, OR DEPRESSION?

Brad Cullum is a Professional Counselor working in Argyle, Texas.  He provides therapy for those struggling with issues related to men’s mental health, work and family life balance, anxiety, depression, relationships, family issues, and more.  He is the Owner of Harvest Counseling & Wellness and Co-Founder of Redeemed Life Counseling, LLC.  His office is located near Denton, Highland Village, Flower Mound, Lantana, Roanoke, and Justin.  If you are looking for a therapist in the Argyle area, contact him today for a complimentary phone consultation, 940-241-4140.