According to global surveys, men are more likely than women to commit suicide and are less inclined to communicate about their mental problems. Here's why this might be happening - and how some doctors and researchers are attempting to address it.According to the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source, males die by suicide at twice the rate of females. And high income countries have the highest suicide rates among males.

Despite the various mental health treatment modalities available, there is a disproportionate difference in the number of males suffering from mental health disorders and those seeking treatment. Mental health has gained traction as the "other" silent killer, particularly among men. Why is this? The answer goes back to stigma. Stigma can be complicated and pervasive. For these reasons, I've provided some definitions to help frame the debate. Social (public) stigma, self-stigma (perceived), professional stigma, and cultural stigma are all terms used to describe mental health stigma. Social stigma refers to negative attitudes and disapproval of a person or group experiencing mental health illness, which stems from the mistaken belief that symptoms of mental illness are caused by a person's weak character. These perceptions can result in discrimination, avoidance, and rejection of people suffering from mental illnesses. This is the type of stigma that is usually discussed the most. Self-stigma is the internalization of social stigma, in which the person suffering from mental illness feels ashamed of his or her symptoms.Culture refers to a person's beliefs, values, and social norms within a specific racial or ethnic group. It has an effect on certain ideas and behaviors, and it is directly related to the meaning that people place on their illness. Culture influences whether or not people seek help, the type of help they seek, as well as their coping style and support. Social norms define socially acceptable behavior and serve as a framework for how people suffering from mental illnesses internalize public attitudes that may cause embarrassment and shame.

In the Black community, for example, mental illness is considered a taboo subject. Those suffering from mental illnesses are frequently perceived as weak, broken, and insufficiently strong. To be fair, the Black community has been a victim of the medical business since the Tuskegee experiment, when many African American men were duped into being injected with syphilis while believing they were receiving free health care.As a result, there is considerable skepticism about the health-care system. As a result, persons who identify with the Black culture may find it difficult to accept a mental health problem or diagnosis and seek treatment. Because of cultural stigma, underrepresented people are forced to seek mental health care and assistance on their own, if at all. Understanding the role of culture in mental illness is vital in designing strategic initiatives to reduce the negative consequences of mental health disease because cultural influences have an impact on views of mental health.

The following are some significant ideas for moving toward a society that is aware of health disparities encountered by underrepresented groups in health-care settings, as well as changing social and cultural norms.

• Mental health providers should review the APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men (2018) to explore the complexity of masculinity and work with males.

• Develop policies for providing mandatory cultural competency training to physicians in medical school and not just primary care settings.

• Develop and implement public stigma reduction campaigns.

• Diversify the pool of mental health providers in urban and rural areas.

• Increase diverse role models of positive masculinity.

Manhood should be redefined. There must be a revolution in American culture so that men feel more comfortable expressing themselves. It would also be negligent of me not to discuss the risk factors that present in scenarios such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in which boys and men who may be suffering from a mental health crisis are prone to the isolation caused by COVID-19. This isolation may exacerbate the precursors of mental illness, emphasizing the importance of overcoming and leveraging barriers to mental health resource access among individuals who are less likely to seek professional care.