The goal of Declutter Health is to make communication and discussion about mental health easier and more acceptable while joining and building a community.
People have different ways of experiencing mental health problems, so it dramatically varies from person to person. It is impossible to state what mental health is or even attempt to define it. When it comes to mental health, it becomes paramount that we respect the thought processes of individuals; society needs to know that it is perfectly okay that certain solutions do not work for every person. Thus, every person has a chance to find their specific path to a healthy state of mind. However, mental health remains a taboo area to date, thus denying many people the help they need. The struggle is further complicated when we place mental health in the context of the queer community and men. There are two significant occasions to focus on these issues: Pride Month and Men’s Mental Health Month, both celebrated in June. Although it is crucial not to forget that the importance of mental health should not be restricted to only one month,.
Terms like ‘man up’ or ‘boys, don’t cry,’ which may be used by friends and family, play a significant role in gender stereotyping that may deny men the ability to get help for their mental health.
These societal expectations produce cultures that discourage male individuals from seeking mental health treatment because doing so would be seen as a sign of weakness. The expectations that are put forward are so strongly associated with masculinity that these feelings generate profound and potentially debilitating emotional stress, so that men cannot or will not ask for support.
The exposure of the queer community to shame, prejudice, and discrimination in society makes them vulnerable to developing the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.
It is for this reason that most queer people do not have a smooth sail in the process of self-acceptance and coming out to society.
Struggles with Men’s Mental Health:
- Cultural and Societal Expectations: The kind of pressure that boys grow up with; they are supposed to be “men,” and they are supposed to be strong, unemotional, and able to manage everything on their own. Such cultural practices make it challenging for male individuals to admit when they have a problem emotionally, or perhaps, a mental health problem, since such a disposition is frowned upon as people consider it a sign of attacked masculinity. This is because the men are forced to conform to conventional manhood and, therefore, cannot openly discuss their mental health issues.
- Underreporting: This indicates that men are less likely to seek help for mental health issues since this is taboo, and they are likely to be embarrassed to do so. The failure to report mental health challenges can lead to patients enduring the problem, worsening the condition, and increasing their vulnerability to adverse consequences. Thus, to resolve the issue of such underreporting, it is necessary to eliminate ignorance as well as encourage spaces and cultures that foster support for men who want to talk about their mental health.
- Substance Abuse: It is established that different mental health disorders affect men and women differently, and more men resort to substance use in treating mental health disorders since they have the need to be strong. In cases of distressing emotions, the male gender may opt to consume alcohol, drugs, or any other substance to dampen the feelings that, in a real sense, denote that the man has mental health issues. This behavior can be temporary and give a certain relief, but it leads to a successive course of dependency and addiction.
Struggles of the Queer Community:
- Discrimination and stigma: Queer individuals often face discrimination in various aspects such as employment, healthcare, housing, and overall civil rights. This can lead to chronic stress disorders and other mental health issues.
- Coming Out: The entire process of coming out and being accepted by oneself and society can be extremely anxiety- and fear-provoking for individuals. The fear of being rejected, along with other negative consequences, can take a toll on their mental health and overall life.
- Lack of Support: There are chances that many queer individuals may lack support from their families and close ones, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
- Violence and Harassment: Physical and emotional violence by queer people is also a factor that results in trauma and other issues.
Depression and other mental illnesses in men are significant and unaddressed, mainly because of the “macho” culture prevailing in society due to the masculine attitudes that do not allow men to open up and ask for help. Addressing this issue is vital for several reasons: it counters negative portrayals of manhood, advocates for more appropriate and balanced expectations of one’s state of mind, and decreases men’s relatively elevated suicide risk by offering the means for professional assistance.
Speaking of male mental health issues, it allows people to express their emotions, which can result in healthier relationships and enhance the quality of individuals’ lives. Mental health in the queer community is highly critical because queer people face discrimination, stigma, and rejection from society, which leads to a higher prevalence of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Ensuring mental health support for this community is essential for several reasons: it raises awareness of equality and human rights so that every person can have a chance to lead a happy life; it eliminates prejudice and unequal treatment, as well as prejudice and stigmatization of representatives of the LGBTQ+ community, contributes to the overall quality of citizens’ lives as regards their specific mental health needs, and it strengthens community support to increase solidarity among queer people.
As valuable as it is to set specific months in which people are encouraged to focus on queer and men’s mental health, it is equally important to do this, consistently all year round.
We, at Declutter, believe that a person’s mental health is not dictated by the days on the calendar, and therefore, our quest to promote it should not be either. Education, advocacy, and support should be ongoing to truly make a difference.
