Suffering in Silence

In 5 Louisiana men would not reach out for mental health help, reveals study. 28% of men admit they have reached for alcohol to help their anxiety. Over half of men say not meeting friends during social distancing has affected their mental health.

According to a study by the CDC*, nearly 1 in 10 (8.5%) men across the US have experienced feelings of depression and anxiety on a daily basis. However, less than half (41%) have sought help from a mental health professional. With depressive symptoms manifesting differently** in men compared to women, men who are depressed may outwardly appear angry to their loved ones instead of downcast or sad. Men are also typically less likely to recognize and talk about treatment for depression.

RiverOaksTreatment.com, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center, conducted a survey of 3,040 men (aged 21+) revealing that nearly 1 in 5 (17%) men in Louisiana admit they would not reach out for help with their mental health struggles (compared to a national average of 22%).

Broken down across the country, it was found that Alaskan men appear to be least willing to speak about their mental health with 50% admitting they would not reach out for help. Comparatively, men in South Dakota appeared to be most eager to talk about theirs with just 9% saying they would not ask for help.

Some men who struggle with their mental health may use drugs or alcohol in an attempt to cope with their emotional symptoms. The survey found that over a quarter (28%) of men admit they have used alcohol to alleviate their anxiety. Unlike other substances alcohol is easily accessible in supermarkets and liquor stores across the country. Men may be drawn to the sedative – but addictive – effects of alcohol***, helping to distract from the depressive symptoms they may be persistently experiencing.

For some men, it may be more comforting to first speak to someone they know and are familiar with as opposed to a therapist or medical professional. The survey asked men who they would reach out to first if they felt their mental health was suffering and 43% said they would talk to their family members. Forty-two percent said they would reach out to their partner and 12% to friends. Just 3% would talk to their work colleagues.

This may also have to do with the difficulty of social distancing, as some people are opting to conduct meetings with medical professionals and therapists via video calling. In fact, more than 1 in 3 (39%) men say they would not reach out about their mental health purely to avoid virtual therapy sessions as they would prefer face-to-face meetings.

Interestingly, the survey revealed that 67% of men say they feel more comfortable speaking to women about personal problems.

During these unprecedented times of social distancing, being apart from family and friends can be emotionally difficult for many people, especially those who struggle with their mental health. Over half (58%) of men say not being able to meet friends during social distancing has affected their mental health in some way.

Lastly, when asked why they would not reach out for help about mental health issues, 46% of men say they don’t think it’s important enough, 30% said they would be embarrassed, 14% said they don’t want to be a burden to others and 10% said they wouldn’t reach out as they don’t want to be prescribed medication for their mental health.