Depression in Men: The Sexist Mental Health System Makes it Worse

Oncefa2 · 2021-05-24T19:14:52+00:00

This should be probably be pretty obvious but it helps to spell it out every now and then.

Whether on purpose or not, a lot of the current social messaging around men's mental health amounts to victim blaming.

The idea being put forward is that there is something inherently wrong with men. We tell them they suck at seeking help, that they don't like being vulnerable, that all of that is very toxic, and then it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Men do not like the patronizing tone that is being taken with them. In one study, as many as 88% of men called it offensive (source).

Regardless if it's actually true or false that men are "stubborn" about their mental health, I think it would be beneficial to develop positive messaging and outreach approaches that go beyond, "men are fragile and hate asking for help".

GulchDale · 2021-05-24T20:48:20+00:00

It truly is sexist. When I was a kid I had a lot of anger problems, but counselors and psychologists never once asked me why I was angry. All what they saw was an angry black man and their internalised sexism/racism thought it was my fault instead of circumstances. I need to cope with anger because men are angry, or so they thought.

When I look back it's like 'No shit I was angry'. I got bullied in school, I got bullied at home, I got bullied in church, I got bullied at family gatherings, I got bullied by Gf's. I was quiet and fragile so people took advantage of it. All they had to do was ask why I was angry and they would have been able to suss that out. But like a lot of boys, I was forced to figure it out on my own because belly breathing when you're mad doesn't get you not picked on.

AAKurtz · 2021-05-25T17:09:59+00:00

I once had a female therapist tell me that she had fallen asleep during a session, but that she didn't really care because the client was, "an old white man".

adam-l · 2021-05-25T07:57:34+00:00

Men are being oppressed at the very bottom of their (Maslow's) hierarchy of needs: sex. No one is allowed to even talk about it, of course, because this would mean more "emotional work" by women.

Most men are so desperate that they spend their lives trying to fuck their own wives, ffs.

I remember that story for the guy that decided to kill himself. "Since I'll be at it, it doesn't hurt to go over to Mexico for drugs and hookers." He goes, decides that life is not so bad after all. (I'd recommend against drugs, though.)

Juhnthedevil · 2021-05-24T21:03:31+00:00

Mmhhh and women from their side have problem with "hysteria". It seems there is two side of the same coins...🤔...

Title	Depression in Men: The Sexist Mental Health System Makes it Worse
Author	Oncefa2
Upvotes	188
Comments	17
Date	May 24, 2021 7:14 PM UTC (5 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/LeftWingMaleAdvocates
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/LeftWingMaleAdvocates/comments/nk5rov/depression_in_men_the_sexist_mental_health_system/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/LeftWingMaleAdvocates/depression-in-men-the-sexist-mental-health-system.1061249 https://theredarchive.com/post/1061249

Comments