Okay, so hear me out - this is a follow-up to last week’s post.

Studies around the world show that men usually find it hard to talk about their mental health, even so, they are highly susceptible to attempt suicide as compared to women, this fact is according to studies done by the World Health Organisation. If we put the black man in this context and examine how look at how we are trained to think as the saviour and the tough warrior, this is just a recipe for disaster.

When you think about it, good mental health is almost as important as oxygen intake. You need to ensure you’re in a good mental state to survive, just as much as physical health. Various reasons however stop men from talking about their mental instability which transgresses to issues such as depression. Men are usually afraid to even take antidepressants, if prescribed, mostly because they do not want to be judged.

Men do not want to share their problems with a friend, much less a stranger, so they do not even think of visiting a therapist. With no expressive outlet nor treatment, these issues can not be adequately resolved and often progress into bigger issues, that can take longer be fixed. In addition to that toxic masculinity has fostered greater problems than we care to acknowledge.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report of 2018, men commit suicide three times more than women in high-income countries, so just imagine the numbers in third-world and low-income countries. Many mental health disorders are difficult to identify in black men especially because they hide them because they are socialized to do so. 1 in every 10 men is said to have experienced some sort of depression, and regardless of the staggering data, it is reported by the National Institute of Mental Health that the men are less likely to receive formal support in the past years as compared to the women.

It is reported by the researchers that men suffer different symptoms of similar mental health disorders as compared to women. For example, according to the specialists of the National Institute of Mental Health, most men usually hide their feelings of aggressiveness, irritability, and depression than women. It is important to note though, that as the years go by, just as much as there has been an increase in the number of people who have fallen victim to mental health issues as a result of social media and other factors, more people are understanding the importance of taking care of their cognitive space and setting things in place to deal with them.

So you see, the numbers are pretty high and I’m not saying prioritize the mental space of men only, but we need to work on building the men around us, and ensure they can see the world for what it should be and not what they were taught. This can help to build us to a place where we are able to see toxic masculinity and correct it which may, in turn, eradicate other issues that may follow.

Please note that is okay to just talk to a professional about how you feel if you are having challenges as it relates to your mental health and how you are feeling (if you are confused, it you are hurting, if you lost something or even someone - start with a couple sessions and see where it goes - please try to help yourself when you do by opening up. Below is a list of resources/persons to help you based on your location (you can refer others in the comments below):

TalkSpace App
Rose-Marie Voordou-Chang (Havendale, Jamaica)
Jhannille Brooks (Windsor Wellness Center, Jamaica)
Verol Billet (Morgan & Associates, Jamaica)
BlackMenHeal.Org (United States)