The campaign Movember encourages men to be more open about mental health issues. To challenge the negative aspects of masculinity and the impact this can have on mental health. One in eight men are diagnosed with a mental health problem every year.
The stigma around men's mental health can be a barrier to seeking treatment, particularly among men who may feel pressured to conform to the ‘strong and silent’ masculine ideal. The fear that mental health problems are a sign of weakness may prevent men from addressing their issues before they reach crisis point.
We need to teach boys and men now that having some feminine traits doesn’t take away from being a man. A lot of men in life unknowingly promote the idea of toxic masculinity.
The world is changing and evolving but a lot of boys are learning from their fathers what the ideal “man” looks like.
Society and popular culture "teach" men to be "stronger" by hiding their emotions. Crying or expressing feelings is not a sign of weakness, instead it makes you stronger.
The traditional cultural norms for men such as aggression, emotional control and dominance is harmful for both; men and women.
Not all pains are visible !
Men are generally less emotionally expressive in our society. This does not mean that they do not go through similar emotions.
A lot of men fall prey to the false idea that they should be “tough enough” to fix all their problems on their own. There is a culture in society that is stopping men every single day from sharing their feelings. It is the culture of “man up”. A culture of “toughen up.” A culture that forces men to conceal their feelings and emotions so as to maintain that outer shell of masculinity.This culture has to change, the stigma needs to end, and it is our responsibility to bring about its ending. All of us.
