Lincoln East Rotary heard from PK (Mpikelelo M Maseko) PK is a Fulbright Scholar in Residence from Zimbabwe being hosted by the Nebraska Wesleyan University’s psychology department. PK talked about Boys don’t cry; man up: Masculinities and mental health among boys and men.
Mental health problems affect people of all genders, but certain conditions are more prevalent among men. For example, men are more likely to die by suicide than women, and they often face higher rates of substance abuse and addiction. In many countries, including the United States, most gun violence perpetrators are men. Men are more likely to be involved in interpersonal violence, including homicides and firearm-related crimes. This gender disparity in perpetration rates holds for lethal and non-lethal forms of violence. Historically, there has been a significant stigma surrounding mental health, particularly among men. Men have often been expected to adhere to traditional notions of masculinity, discouraging them from seeking help or showing vulnerability. This stigma can prevent men from seeking the support they need and can exacerbate mental health issues. Focusing on men’s mental health can challenge these stereotypes and encourage open conversations about mental well-being.
May is mental health awareness month. One of the leading causes of disability is depression. The second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds is suicide. In the US the most common mental health conditions, depression, and anxiety cost the economy $1 trillion each year. PK said there is no health without mental health which has been historically overlooked or stigmatized.
What is Mental Health? -- Just as we all have physical health, we also all have mental health. Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the demands of life, realize their abilities, learn well and can work productively and fruitfully, and contribute to their community. Mental health is not just about the absence or presence of mental illnesses or disorders. We ALL have mental health, not everyone has a mental illness and NOT everyone with a mental illness has poor mental health.
Defining Masculinities -- Masculinity is a cultural idea and there are many different cultures hence different versions of masculinity, or as they are often referred to—masculinities. “Masculinity is a set of thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors that are generally considered to be appropriate for boys and men; importantly, it also includes those that are considered inappropriate for boys and men, against which it has drawn a bright line.” There are phrases that epitomized masculinity such as “boys don’t cry”; “man up”; “suck it up”; “bite the bullet”; “take it like a man”, “tough it out.”
Traditional Masculinity Ideology (TMI)-Unspoken Rules -- PK said Traditional Masculine ideology (TMI) refers to a set of conventional standards and expectations for men and essentially defines what it means to be "masculine" within a particular society. The male role norms inventory include: avoidance of feminity, self-reliance, toughness, dominance, importance of sex, and restrictive emotionality.
Masculinities & Harmful linkages -- Over four decades of research in the psychology of men and masculinities shows that masculinity, is overwhelmingly associated with harmful outcomes, for the man himself, for those close to him, and for society at large.
Masculinities and Suicide -- In 2020 the suicide rate among males in the USA was 4 times higher (22.0 per 100,000) than among females (5.5 per 100,000). 75.2% of all suicides in Lincoln were men. If you compare this to men in South Africa, 79% of all suicides were men, and in Zimbabwe 67^ of all suicides were men. Most women are diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) approximately twice as often as men, men complete 7 of 10 suicide attempts.
Masculinities, Gun and other Physical Violence -- Most of these criminal acts of physical violence are committed by boys and men; in fact, 87% of violent crime in the United States is committed by males, and most of them by White men. In South Africa men are also the primary victims and perpetrators of gun violence – accounting for 89% of total firearm homicides in the country; the majority of whom are young black men, aged 15–29 years. In Zimbabwe 92 % of the homicides and 98% of the firearm homicides are committed by men.
Did you know that men who feel they do not measure up-threatened masculinity. PK said that in Zimbabwe no men carry a gun, because the government owns the guns. In the US many men feel they need to own a gun. Many men, as compared to women, are socially compelled to perform their gender - often at the expense of their own wellbeing. If men own a gun this might be a way of performing one’s masculinity, especially when one perceives his masculinity to be threatened.
Masculinity and Boys’ and Men’s Mental Health -- Men face a silent crisis in mental health due to the stigma surrounding mental health among men. Upholding traditional masculine norms has been associated with negative mental health outcomes and a reduced likelihood of seeking mental health services. When supporting one’s personal mental health is not often discussed or encouraged for men. Many of the activities done to foster mental (e.g., showing vulnerability, talking about one’s feelings, crying, seeking help from another) are strictly discouraged in boys and men.
Masculinity norms create a lot of stress for men. These norms encourage men to be breadwinners and initiators, and tough protectors while being pressured to not show their emotions or vulnerabilities and not being allowed to receive emotional support. When life gets difficult, men influenced by masculinity norms are also limited in coping strategies. Coping mechanisms that are beneficial to health such as meditation, yoga, crying, counseling and therapy, and asking for help are often off limits to men because they appear feminine.
PK said traditional masculinity norms can influence how men experience serious psychopathology like depression by encouraging them to suppress what they feel within themselves (i.e., the internalizing symptoms) and to discharge these unpleasant feelings through action (i.e., externalizing symptoms). Men may be less likely to acknowledge their emotional distress or to seek help when they need it, due to fear of appearing weak or vulnerable. They might also struggle to communicate their feelings, which can compound feelings of isolation and make it harder to connect with others.
Redefining Masculinity-Alternative Masculinities -- A new masculinity: redefining strength and resilience. Embracing a more inclusive, broader, emotionally expressive, and diverse understanding of masculinity, valuing emotional openness and interpersonal connection—can lead to better mental health outcomes for boys and men, changing the narrative to foster emotional well-being, breaking the silence and change the narrative around masculinity and mental health, encouraging individual resilience, societal change, and strong support systems for boys and men.
PK said that one of the best things anyone can do is contact a friend or relative and visit with them about how you feel.
Support Services --
The suicide and crisis lifeline; call, text, or chat 988; National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: This is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); Crisis Text Line: This is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It's free, available 24/7, and confidential.; The Trevor Project: This is a national 24-hour, toll-free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. Call 1-866-488-7386; SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This helpline provides 24-hour free and confidential treatment referral and information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery in English and Spanish; and Nebraska Family helpline-any question, any time (888)866-8660.