While our knowledge of mental health has grown greatly within the past decade, the National Institute of Mental Health states that in 2018 only 13.4% of adults were covered by medical insurance for severe mental illnesses such as major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar depression disorder. This is unacceptable and just one factor in why people suffering from mental illnesses go untreated. Lack of knowledge and lack of access to doctors, especially in rural areas like our own, are other factors. Perhaps the biggest factor of all–especially for males–is the social stigma branching from personal or religious beliefs about how young men should perform that has been painted into their minds from the beginning of time. 

Men’s mental health is often viewed much differently from women’s in our society. This is due to outdated masculinity standards. Women are said to be more emotional and vulnerable, but for men to show emotion, much less to admit to constant mental distress, is much less acceptable. According to Medical News Today, toxic masculinity is “a term often used to describe the negative aspects of exaggerated masculine traits.” An unfortunate statistic from the National Institute of Mental Health is that although 25% of men live with mental illness, males account for 75% of suicides. These numbers are far too serious to ignore. 

So what is the relationship between toxic masculinity and mental health? Placing too much emphasis on “manly” traits such as strength, lack of emotion, self-sufficiency, dominance, and sexual virility is a problem for everyone of all ages. This is because older people committed to raising youth using toxic masculinity ideals only continue the cycle of toxicity. Later in life, the romantic relationship is where we often see young men’s unhealthy behaviors play out, causing them to push women away repeatedly until someone finally leaves.

Four out of ten men struggling with mental health won’t talk about it or ask for help, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. To solve this problem, we need to change the thinking of our youth. We can help young men longing to feel “normal” become more comfortable expressing themselves and asking for help by offering more than the basic school counseling starting in pubescent years.