Gents, we live in a world that often tells us to be strong, to be silent, and to never show weakness. But beneath that expectation lies a struggle that many of us face daily, often in silence. At a very young age, we’re told, “You are a man, and men don’t cry.” This means we’re expected to suppress our emotions, to grit our teeth through pain, and to constantly prove our worth, and we are to do all of the above in complete silence. 

This pressure is suffocating to the extent that men carry a heavy mental load daily. We’ve engulfed ourselves with the responsibility of providing for our families and being the rock and backbone. We worry about our jobs, our finances, and securing a better future, not for ourselves, but for the benefit of our loved ones, and also to leave a remarkable imprint that will serve as a testament to our legacy. We often feel like we can’t afford to stumble or fail; we push ourselves so hard at times to a point where we self-destruct. This constant pressure can lead to anxiety, depression, and a crushing sense of isolation.

It is a stark reality that men disproportionately face higher rates of suicide and often struggle in silence with mental health issues due to societal pressures to be “tough” and not show vulnerability. We need to create spaces where men feel comfortable seeking help and openly discussing their struggles without judgment.
According to the Global and National Suicide Statistics for Men, males are more than twice as likely to die by suicide as females are, with a mortality rate of 12.8 per 100,000 for males compared to 5.4 for females in 2021. Societal norms often tell men that expressing vulnerability is a sign of weakness, so they bottle things up and bury their feelings and emotions. This emotional isolation is a silent killer, which at times may lead to higher rates of suicide among men. Also, the “tough guy” idea stops most men from talking about their mental health issues openly, so they use drugs and alcohol to numb their pain.