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Men’s Mental Health Month: A Time to Pause, Reflect, and Speak Up

  • Writer: archibald psychotherapy
    archibald psychotherapy
  • Jun 9
  • 4 min read

Every June, Men’s Mental Health Month gives us a chance to pause, reflect, and ask some important questions: How are the men in our lives really doing? And are they getting the help they need?



A person with a cap and tattoos sips a drink from a mason jar in a cozy café. The mood is casual and relaxed, with soft lighting.
Mens mental health month

For many men, navigating mental health isn't just about feelings—it’s about identity, expectations, culture, and sometimes silence. At Archibald Psychotherapy, I believe in creating spaces where those silences can finally speak.


By the Numbers: Why This Month Matters


Let’s start with some sobering truths:


  • Men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women in the UK.

  • Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50.

  • Only 36% of NHS referrals for talking therapy are for men.

  • Male depression and anxiety are often underdiagnosed due to differences in how symptoms present and how men report them.


The stats are loud. The response, historically, hasn’t been.

So, what’s going on?

Man wearing headphones and a brown shirt against a dark background, looking serious. The scene is minimalist with neutral tones.
Can we hear whats happening for men

The Silent Pressures of Modern Manhood


Men are often told to “man up” long before they’re taught how to open up.From early on, boys are fed messages—some subtle, some blatant—that discourage emotional expression. Crying is “weak.” Vulnerability is “feminine.” Strength is stoicism.

But emotional repression isn’t a shield. It’s a pressure cooker.

Modern society places expectations on men to be:


  • Strong but gentle

  • Successful but humble

  • Ambitious but emotionally available

  • Financial providers, yet somehow never too career-obsessed


And all this... while still remembering bin day.

It’s exhausting. And often, there's little room left to not be okay.


The Rise of Anger and Incel Identity


In recent years, we’ve seen a rise in what’s often described as “incel culture”—young men identifying as involuntarily celibate, often angry, isolated, and disillusioned. While the media focuses on the extreme rhetoric, underneath it lies a crisis of connection and meaning. Many of these men feel unseen, unheard, and unworthy, caught between outdated expectations and modern rejection.


Anger, in this context, becomes a mask for loneliness and pain. It provides identity, even if it’s a destructive one. When society doesn’t offer healthy pathways for male emotional expression, unhealthy communities can step in. Addressing this isn’t about condoning harmful behaviour, but about understanding what fuels it.


Therapy can offer a space where these layers of frustration, shame, and sadness can be safely unpacked—where vulnerability becomes a bridge rather than a threat. We need to listen, not just judge. Because behind the anger, there is often a young man asking, “Do I matter?”


Shifting Identities: Who is the 21st Century Man?


We’re living through a cultural evolution. The rigid boxes of “masculinity” are softening. And that's a good thing—mostly.


Gender roles are becoming more fluid, emotional literacy is being encouraged, and men are allowed (even expected) to show up more emotionally in relationships, parenting, and friendship.


But transition periods are tricky. For many men, particularly those raised in more traditional environments, there’s a sense of identity whiplash.


One moment, you're applauded for being stoic.The next, you're questioned for not sharing enough in the WhatsApp group.


Navigating these shifts is not about “keeping up”—it’s about finding authenticity in a culture that keeps moving the goalposts.


And What About Trans Men?


All-gender restroom sign with male, female, and wheelchair symbols on blue background. Set against corrugated metal wall.
Mental health doesn’t ask for gender conformity

While most mental health statistics around men are still cis-focused, it’s essential to acknowledge that trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth often experience mental health struggles at even higher rates.


The research, sadly, is still catching up.


Much of the existing data fails to account for trans men in male suicide and depression figures. As a result, this population remains under-supported and underrepresented.


Mental health doesn’t ask for gender conformity. Neither should the services that aim to treat it.

East and West: When Culture Shapes Coping


Let’s take a moment to think globally.


In many Eastern cultures, mental health is deeply stigmatised. Emotional expression is often seen as shameful, a disruption to family honour, or a burden to others.


In contrast, Western societies—while slowly making progress—still carry remnants of "get on with it" culture, especially for men.


For those raised in one culture and living in another—say, second-generation immigrant men in the UK—the pressures can multiply. You're juggling two sets of values, often with conflicting messages around masculinity and emotion.


Here, therapy must meet people where they are: culturally sensitive, emotionally attuned, and patient enough to unpack layered expectations.


So What Can We Do?


Let’s be clear: men don’t need “fixing.”They need space. They need permission. They need support.


Here’s how we can all help:


1. Ask Twice Men are more likely to say “I’m fine” when they’re not. Ask again. Gently. And listen without trying to fix.


2. Normalize Therapy Therapy isn’t just for crises. It’s for growth, clarity, stress, trauma, relationships, burnout—and yes, even just “talking things through.”


3. Let Men Be Men—Whatever That Means Some men find healing in talking. Others in sport, art, fatherhood, or faith. There’s no single path. Let’s broaden the image of what healthy masculinity can look like.


4. Address Workplace Pressures Long hours, financial strain, and job insecurity often hit men hard. Encourage open dialogue about mental health in professional settings.


5. Support the Supporters This month isn’t just about men—it’s for those who care about them too. Partners, friends, colleagues, sisters, mums. Your role matters. Your voice can be the bridge.


You Don’t Have to Carry It All Alone


If you’re reading this and thinking, “I don’t talk about my mental health because I wouldn’t even know where to start”—we get it. That first conversation can feel difficult.


But on the other side is relief. On the other side is being heard.

A person in a suit stands in an office, gazing out at a bright city skyline through large windows, creating a contemplative mood.
When will you start your journey

At Archibald Psychotherapy, I offer confidential, professional therapy tailored to you individually —because I know it’s not one-size-fits-all.


Closing Thoughts


If you’re a man who’s ever stared at a therapy flyer and thought, “I’d rather wrestle a badger,”—I get it.


But here’s the twist: most men who try therapy say the same thing in their second session:“Why didn’t I do this sooner?”


It’s never too early to start talking. And it’s definitely never too late.


Need to Talk? I'm Here.


At Archibald Psychotherapy, I provide compassionate, culturally sensitive therapy at all stages of life. Whether it’s burnout, grief, anxiety, identity, or the weight of things unspoken—I offer a safe space to unpack it.

Because mental health isn’t just a women’s issue.It’s a human one.


 
 
 

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