How Society Impacts Men’s Mental Health [Video]

It’s an unfortunate truth that men and women are raised with different societal expectations when it comes to mental health. The effects of this have traditionally been negative for men, who experience a wealth of mental health challenges due to repressed emotions. Here, we explore how society impacts mental health for men and give options for how to pave a healthier path forward.

From a young age, society inundates men with specific expectations and stereotypes. Traditional masculinity encourages emotional stoicism, toughness, and self-reliance. Boys often hear phrases like “man up” or “boys don’t cry,” which condition them to suppress their emotions.

The media further propagates these ideals through movies, advertisements, and even role models who portray men as emotionally resilient and physically dominant. While these attributes can sometimes be advantageous, they also establish a narrow, restrictive framework for what it means to be a “real man.”

The societal norms surrounding …