For a long time, conversations about men’s mental health have been limited by stigma and the idea that men should always be self-reliant and suppress their emotions. However, there’s growing recognition of the importance of creating spaces where men feel safe to share their experiences and struggles. Opening up about mental health isn’t always easy, but it can make a big difference, not just for individuals but for the people around them too.

Despite the growing changes in attitudes, many men still find it hard to talk about how they’re feeling. Whether it’s because they worry about being judged or simply don’t know where to start, this silence can make things tougher than they need to be.

Four in ten men have shared that they don’t talk about their mental health; not with friends, family, or professionals. Many admit they’d only consider opening up if they were experiencing thoughts of self-injury or suicide. This is deeply alarming, as there are steps that can and should be taken long before reaching such a critical point.

This statistic, paired with the fact that 35% of men believe they’ve had a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life, only heightens the concern. It highlights the urgent need for open and honest conversations, ones that aren’t met with societal shame or judgment.

With this in mind, we reached out to our community and posed the question:  “Why do you think it’s important for young men to open up to one another about their mental health?”

Here’s what they shared with us…

"I think it’s quite well known for most people that it’s important for young men to be open about their mental health. The thing that is not realized yet, is how effective it can be. One of the most popular concepts in psychology is the social-learning theory: which states that behavior is an effect of seeing it first in other people.

So when a guy is struggling with his mental health and hears a friend openly sharing a similar experience, it can trigger a realization like: ‘Wait, I’ve felt that too. So is it okay to talk about this?’ This is also why male role models speaking about their struggles can be so impactful, by normalizing vulnerability, they create a ripple effect that encourages others to do the same."  - Yassin

"I have always been of the persuasion that we are all human beings, strong in many things, weak in some things, and that our greatest strength is in communicative and collaborative thinking. Which is why it wasn’t easy to admit that I had fallen prey to the common human failing of isolating oneself. 

There’s a little bit of pride in me where I consider myself better than the average person. I’m aware of this pride. I’m aware of many things about myself. I’m self-aware. Ironically, this means it can become a bit too easy to rest too heavily on my own capableness. To hunker down when the earth is shaking and say: I can fix this, I can do this on my own, I can come out the other side smiling as usual and be the rock my friends have come to expect. Why? I’m built this way. Sturdy. You know, the typical masculine nonsense. The last time this happened to me, I spent two weeks rotting in this state, feeling overwhelming guilt at the same time because I did not have two weeks to waste. Exams were coming. Life was calling. I was out of money. None of that helped me move. I was tapped out.

The insidious nature of mental health challenges is that they affect your decision making, usually by taking out one or more important parts of the process. For me, my challenges crippled my motivation. So, while it may seem to me like I’m thinking logically, I’m actually making all my decisions without any drive to break patterns. In that state I’ll always choose to wait out the slump. 

It is vitally important not to.

Breaks in pattern help, the first of which? The cry for help. The reach for support. The talking. When we face our challenges alone, we are fighting both our problems and our constructed selves which will force us into a stalemate as the damage mounts. And when we do tell a friend? Our constructed self is shattered for a time. The rock facade is weakened, taken out of the fight. We can spend some time not being outnumbered. I am of the persuasion that we are all human beings, strong in many things, weak in some things. Well, the difference between man and beast is that man can talk. I think he should."

the bat, tired-drowsy-beaten, murmured 

i’m built this way

hmm, said the fox

a bat can fall

- Uchechi

 "I think it’s important because it’s a worsening issue that contributes to thousands of preventable suicides every year, alongside the observed increase in male loneliness. There has recently been a concerning amount of withdrawal from social circles by men- for instance, a 2021 survey found that 15% of men reported having no close friends. I don’t think enough has been done. Therefore, I believe it’s fundamental that men (or people generally) do what they can to provide each other with encouragement and support at an individual level." - Sam

These are just a few perspectives of many young men who may be struggling. What’s most important is keeping the doors open for these types of conversations and continuing to create a space where all voices feel heard. 

Mental health difficulties are not a weakness, and you’re not as alone as you feel. If you’re finding it hard to open up to those around you, visit our resources page, where you’ll find organisations that are there to listen. 

With that being said, we also want to encourage you to speak to the people in your life. You don’t have to go through it alone.