Men's Mental Health.
This often goes unnoticed because everyone views the male gender from a different perspective and expected to be strong while forgetting the simple fact that we are all humans and we all have emotions. It has often been attributed as a sign of weakness when a man shows any sign of emotions.
This has been engraved into the male perspective too that we don't often seek help or go for constant check ups to know the state of our mind, heart or body. Constant check up is needed and most men that would go for check ups go solely to get their loved ones off their backs after they have been forced to go. Even when they honour these appointments, men hardly disclose the reasons why they came just to make it easier to wrap up the appointment and leave through the door as fast as they can.
A lot of men sees their GP or visit the hospital half as much as women especially during their working age. For health check ups, women also have 4 times as many opportunities to meet with medical professionals. For most men, they wait until symptoms have worsened before seeing a doctor.
A lot of fathers resume from paternity leave and they hardly get asked how they are doing nor do they have people checking up on them. The signs for men showing post-natal depression might not be very obvious as it would be for the women. It can come in various forms like anger, worries and anxiety.
Post-natal depression is often associated with the women but often goes unnoticed for the men. Almost half of males are more comfortable having open conversations about difficult topics. A recent research shows that police receives an emergency call every 3 minutes from a male victim of domestic abuse.
Men are less likely to reveal an abuse as a woman will. Common signs of abuse for men would be changes in their behaviour, attitude, clothing - the way they dress - a major adjustments in it, even at work. You also seem to see them outside more without their partners alongside them.
It has also been revealed that men harbours more suicidal thoughts than the female counterpart. There are also signs to watch out for like cancelling of plans in the last minute, saying they are burned out, saying words like: "Everyone will be better without me" or "I can't cope anymore" or "I don't know how to fix things" or "I am lonely" etc.
This doesn't mean everyone who says these words or acts certain ways are having suicidal thoughts or they are being abused, but it's a call for those around them to look close enough and be observant. There is a need to move closer and genuinely ask, "How are you really doing?"
To Be Continued...
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today; doctor's order.
The gender stereotypes created by society sucks. Men are expected to be strong at all times, led them to build wall to be able to reach the society's standard. Therefore, it's true that we should also consider men and not leave them behind in all aspects. They are human beings, too. Love the idea of being aware about this matter. This article is actually an eye-opener. Letβs be more aware about gender equality!