Behind the pre-conceived ‘macho’ image of men created by the society lies a huge pool of untapped emotions that men go through. Most of these emotions are supressed to live up to the societal and cultural norms which leads many men to silently bottling up emotional and mental issues. Currently, the mental health and well-being of men presents a dire picture in India. As per research, roughly 65% of the suicides in India are committed by men; about 44% of these are due to marital issues, family issues and illness.
Stress affects men’s health differently than how it affects women’s health. While stress tends to activate the “tend and befriend” response in women, men have been found to react to stress more with the aggressive “fight or flight” response, according to a study. Common issues reported by men are work stress, relationship issues, pressure from family to arrange for finances, etc. On the occasion of National Men’s Health Week which is celebrated from 13th to 19th June this year, let us understand how and why maintaining mental health is important for men.
Stress, depression and anxiety seem to be the most common afflictions in mental health for men. Depression and stress in men can show in the forms of aggression, irritability, low sexual drive, and frequently explosive behaviour. Stress can manifest in the forms of aches and pains or a lower immunity. Stress also harms the reproductive systems by decreasing testosterone levels. Prolonged distress disrupts inter-personal relations and leads to social withdrawal in men
3 Probable Causes of Stress
Understanding the sources also helps us to identify the cultural lens which does not allow men to seek help. Here are some of the causes of stress in men.
1. Work and Expectation Stress
Increased expectations from work and performance pressure may strain one’s mental health. If not handled appropriately, tension levels may surge leading to mental and physical concerns. Bravery, adventurousness, being able to think rationally, being strong and effective, are all perceived as "manly" traits that are usually encouraged by family and peers. Men make up for a major part of the corporate workforce, and according to an Assocham study, 42.5% of corporate employees in India suffer from depression.
Scenario in the IT industry is dreadful as employees report lack of social contact due to work burden. Psychiatrists in Bangalore and Delhi have noticed that almost one third of their patients are techies. This group of employees feel wretched looking at other’s happening updates. With hiring precincts and pay confines in the IT industry, lay-offs are common with rising pressures.
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