By Tristan Jones, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker

While we’ve made strides in talking about mental health, there are still many barriers to overcome—especially for men. Societal expectations, stigma, and outdated norms often make it difficult for men to open up about their emotional struggles, leaving many to suffer in silence. 43% of men aged 16-85 report having a mental disorder at some point in their lifetime. In this special Q&A for Men’s Health Day, Tristan Jones discusses the importance of mental wellness in men’s lives -- from breaking down stereotypes to offering actionable support and resources.

What are some common mental health issues that men experience? 

Tristan: I’ve found during my time that the biggest issues for men are often around addictions, isolation and stress. All of these can often present at once and can be quite a struggle to manage without support. I have found men tend to have few, if any, close relationships where they feel safe enough to share issues they’re struggling with, and so will instead turn to other coping mechanisms that are not always helpful in the long run.

Why do you think men are often reluctant to seek help for mental health issues? 

Tristan: I think a large part is that on a social level the modern idea of masculinity is heavily interwoven with stoicism, and so seeking help or admitting that you are struggling can (mistakenly) feel counter to that. Additionally, I’ve had men tell me that they were often worried that their therapist just “wouldn’t get it” when it comes to men’s issues, which can really reduce your options when only 1 in 6 therapists in Australia are men.

How can friends and family support men struggling with their mental health? 

Tristan: I think the most impactful thing you can do to support a man struggling with mental health is becoming aware of emotional invalidation and the damage it can cause, especially for men where a lot of this is already so internalised. Often it can feel like there isn’t much you can do to fix or resolve their issue, but it can be ok to just listen and acknowledge the difficulty and hardship they are facing and validate the emotion.

What message do you want to convey to men who might be reading this? 

Tristan: That it is not a weakness or a failure to seek help. Too many men feel that they are burdening others or that their issues are not important enough. That said, it’s completely understandable to fear judgement or being dismissed by those close to you, in which case it can be a good start to speak to somebody appropriately trained and registered in a judgement free environment.

What is one strategy that men can use to improve their mental health? 

Tristan: Don’t forget the basics! We can easily become far too focused on issues that are upsetting us or causing us stress, it is how we are wired. Unfortunately, this can often be at the expense of things such as eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising and socialising. All these things will compound existing stress if not taken care of, and when our mental health is suffering, they are usually the first things to go.

Resources from Healthdirect:

There are online resources that can provide more tips for good mental health and apps for building wellbeing. There are many other organisations you can contact for mental health support and information.

Telephone or online mental health resources can often be effective, especially if you aren't able to access a health service, or find talking to someone face-to-face difficult. Here are some telephone and online resources to try: