Data published by a mental health charity working with
young men to coincide with men’s health awareness month shows that ‘toxic
masculinity’ is having a negative impact on the mental health of young men and
preventing them from seeking help.
Out of the young men aged between 14 and 21 who
responded to the survey 37% said they were currently experiencing problems with
their mental health. Almost half the young men had not spoken to anyone about
their problems and out of those who had only 21% were receiving treatment. A
further 29% has asked for help but were not receiving treatment.
The research was conducted by Stem 4, a charity
supporting mental health amongst teenagers as part of their ‘Movember’ focus on
the mental health of boys and young men. Data was drawn from a survey of 1100
boys and young men, asking them about their experiences around mental health.
The findings show that many of the respondents felt it
would be ‘weak’ to ask for help, an impression intensified by ongoing cultural
conditioning around masculinity. Responses varied from fearing being seen as
‘weak’ (30%), being worried that people would laugh at them (21%) and being
afraid that seeking help would make them ‘feel less masculine” (14%).
Dr
Nihara Krause, a consultant clinical psychologist and the founder of Stem 4
said: “We live in a culture that puts huge pressure on boys and young men to
behave in particular ways, many of them damaging to their mental health. Our
survey shows exactly why this is so damaging, with many suffering in silence,
even when they’re approaching crisis point. If we’re going to tackle boys and
young men’s mental health, we have to address the cultural blind spots to male
mental health. It’s also time to start listening properly to boys and men,
understand how they express their needs, and provide services that will benefit
them” [1].
The
most common conditions reported by respondents were stress (47%), depression or
low mood (33%) and anxiety (27%). Other problems reported include eating
disorders (11%), anger and behavioural problems (10%) and self-harm (9%).
Worryingly
nearly half (46%) of the young men who responded said they wouldn’t seek help
even if things ‘got really bad’. Many spoke about the impact of negative
portrayals of men in the media and feeling pressured to follow a very tightly
circumscribed form of masculine behaviour had on their mental health.
One
16-year-old respondent quoted in Mental Health Today said “you say you're OK
when you're not, because you're supposed to be a man. And men aren't supposed
to have emotions” [2].
Only
37% of the young men questioned said they felt able to talk to family members
about their mental health, 72% of parents cited in the survey said they would
feel uncomfortable talking about mental health issues with their children.
Difficulty accessing CAMHS support was also mentioned as a contributing factor.
Also
quoted in Mental Health Today Dr Nihara Krause
said: “We live in a culture that puts huge pressure on boys and young men to
behave in particular ways, many of them damaging to their mental health. Our
survey shows exactly why this is so damaging, with many suffering in silence,
even when they’re approaching crisis point. If we’re going to tackle boys and
young men’s mental health, we have to address the cultural blind spots to male
mental health. It’s also time to start listening properly to boys and men,
understand how they express their needs, and provide services that will benefit
them”.
A
somewhat more simplistic take on the problems of modern masculinity was
provided this week by Tory MP Nick Fletcher, who told a Westminster Hall debate
that female replacements for film and TV roles traditionally played by men were
driving crime and disaffection amongst males.
He
said: "In recent years we have seen Doctor Who, Ghostbusters, Luke
Skywalker, the Equaliser, all replaced by women, and men are left with the
Krays and Tommy Shelby” [3].
He went
on to say: "Everywhere... there seems to be a call from a tiny, but
very vocal, minority that every male character or good role model must have a
female replacement”.
Mr
Fletcher also attacked the use of the term ‘toxic masculinity’ and described
International Men’s Day, celebrated on 19th November as "a
rather cruel joke concocted in response to feminism, women's rights and
International Women's Day".
His
comments drew criticism from fellow MPs, Labour Party Chair Anneliese Dodds said
the reasons some young men turned to crime were “far more complex than who
should be the next 007”. There was also a strong negative reaction to the
comments on social media.
This
prompted Nick Fletcher to clarify his position later in the day, telling the BBC "I
did not link a Dr Who being female to crime being committed by men - in fact, I
was making a statement that boys and young men also need positive role models
within the media, just as women do."
That
the comments were made in a debate led by Mr Fletcher with a remit to discuss
issues facing males including poor school achievement and mental health is
telling. Whether intentionally or through clumsiness they move what should have
been a serious debate into the territory of harrumphing about a ‘world gone
mad’.
This
creates a safe space for a certain type of middle- aged, upper middle-class
man, mostly living a life sufficiently privileged not to be impacted too much
by the tides of social change, where they can express noisy outrage without anything
that impacts on them changing too much.
Life
for younger men who don’t have plum jobs as MPs, as the Stem 4 research shows,
is more complicated and a whole lot tougher. Far from providing security being
bound into an outdated idea of what it means to be a ‘real man’ does them
serious and lasting harm.
A more
sensible approach is offered by the steps Stem 4 suggest for improving the
mental health of boys and young men. These include regular mental health
check-ups, making it easier to get help and recognising that a ‘real man’ isn’t
always a tough guy so much as one who is able to recognize that asking for help
doesn’t make him weak.
[1]https://stem4.org.uk/toxic-masculinity-stopping-boys-seeking-mental-health-support-survey-finds/
[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59421259
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