How to Talk to Men About Mental Health

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While people of all genders and backgrounds suffer from mental health challenges, healthcare workers often find it much more difficult to discuss them with their male patients. Unfortunately, American society has many preexisting barriers related to gender that tend to stigmatize men who struggle. As a result, they are much less likely to share their mental health concerns with medical professionals unless they feel the circumstances are low-risk and personally optimal.

Research on the topic indicates that doctors, nurses, and therapists can benefit from gender-sensitive strategies for encouraging their male patients to engage with mental health services. Courses like Fatherhood in the Shadows – Addressing Postpartum Depression in Fathers give professionals the gender-based tools they need to create a positive environment for difficult conversations about serious mental health concerns.

In the meantime, here are some tips for how to talk to men about mental health and guiding them to the support they need.

Observe and Acknowledge

Recognizing and treating mental health issues isn’t always easy, especially when people are disinclined to talk. Unlike easily diagnosable symptoms like physical illness or injury, identifying mental health concerns in male patients often requires subtle observation and an intuitive approach to care.

The following signs are common to both men and women and may indicate a significant underlying mental health issue worth exploring.

• Changes in mood or behavior. Shifts in demeanor, like irritability, sadness, or anxiety, can be warning signs of mental health issues that may lead to more serious consequences.
• Physical symptoms. Stress can manifest physical symptoms like headaches, tiredness, GI issues, or an elevated heart rate.
• Withdrawal activities. People struggling with mental health sometimes start to avoid social activities or interactions they once enjoyed.
• Substance Use. People sometimes turn to alcohol, drugs, or other substances as a coping mechanism.

If you notice these changes in a patient or recognize patterns of behavior, acknowledge your observations, but do so carefully. Male patients may close off quickly, so open the conversation in a way that’s judgment-free; otherwise, you might find them becoming defensive and unresponsive.

Also, treating mental health disorders often requires an interprofessional team of medical professionals, like psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists. Developing relationships with your peers in mental health spaces gives you additional resources for engaging with your male patients to get them the support they need.

Create Space for Conversation

Recent research on how to talk to men about mental health suggests that healthcare workers will likely have better luck breaking through with an angled approach. This means not confronting the topic head-on and taking a more creative approach to conversation. Consider a shoulder-to-shoulder interaction as opposed to a face-to-face to avoid the perception that you might be interrogating them.

A great way to do this is to build these conversations into other healthcare-related activities rather than addressing mental health directly. This can allow the conversation to evolve more organically as opposed to feeling like you set them up for an intervention.

You may also be able to engage with family members and friends to promote these conversations. Suggesting they build rapport through activities like walking, hiking, fishing, or going to the gym together can help break down conversational barriers with the men in their lives. They can also contribute to building trust and more open communication over time that extends to healthcare experiences.

Share Your Experience

Men may tend to avoid conversations about mental health because it suggests they are giving in to some form of weakness. Cultural pressures may leave men feeling as though they need to remain stoic during difficult times, resulting in silent struggles with painful challenges that merit serious professional care.

The ramifications of this coping strategy can be severe. Men present higher rates of substance abuse and suicide than women, and cultural pressure related to masculine expectations is a significant contributing factor.

In some cases, a male healthcare worker may be more successful than their female counterparts in breaking down these barriers surrounding toughness and resilience by normalizing conversations. Sharing similar experiences can also help establish a connection between individuals and may promote valuable personal bonds that lead to better health outcomes.

Be Aware of Language

If you’re in the medical field, using dense industry terminology may feel natural, but it can lead to feelings of insecurity among male patients that reinforce unhealthy conversational patterns. When exploring how to talk to men about mental health, healthcare professionals in all roles can support patient success by keeping medical jargon to a minimum and focusing on relatable concepts and language.

When possible, adapt your conversation to omit words and phrases that could feel formal or sterile. It’s also critical to avoid stigmatizing language. Seek to explain concepts that may be emotionally charged with compassionate, honest dialogue.

Be Persistent

If you don’t get anywhere the first time you try to open a conversation, don’t give up! It’s not uncommon for men to respond with something like “I’m ok” or “I’m fine” even when things are obviously difficult. Many people—and especially men—respond like this the first time they are asked about their personal challenges. If other symptoms of mental health struggles are present, it may be part of a pattern of behavior that seeks to avoid burdening others with their problems.

Breaking through these patterns often takes repeated contact and a strategic approach to establishing a comfortable relationship. This includes:

• Listening. Information may come forth in drips as male patients develop trust. Listen closely and respond thoughtfully.
• Confidentiality. Reiterate that conversations are private and legally protected through the provider/patient relationship.
• Normalize. Mental health challenges can make people feel isolated and broken. Reassure patients that their experiences are common and support them with information and literature to review.
• Follow up. Be prepared to check back in with your male patients and give them additional space to discuss their experience.

Becoming a Better Advocate for All Your Patients

Using these tips will give you a great starting point for how to talk to men about mental health in your care. By taking a compassionate approach that creates space for these difficult conversations, healthcare professionals can promote meaningful changes in the lives of their male patients and get the support they need.

Premiere is committed to helping nurses and doctors take effective and comprehensive action for all their patients’ health challenges. Courses like Fatherhood in the Shadows – Addressing Postpartum Depression in Fathers provide a playbook for identifying, exploring, and treating complex mental health issues that men may not understand or realize they are experiencing.

All of Premiere’s award-winning courses are created by industry experts and make it easy for busy healthcare workers to meet their professional obligations and develop their careers.