A (Hu)Man's Mental Health Matters
The statistics have astonished me - men are three times more likely to attempt suicide than women!
We talk rubbish about women talking so much, blurting every single thing out. But, I guess, that’s why the statistics are in their favor. Maybe they are less prone to mental afflictions than men because they pour their feelings out, they express their emotions, they are more willing to show their scars, and accept that they are more sentimental.
They suppress and repress less of what’s natural.
Men are raised into believing that it will be a blow to their manhood if they are not good in bed or if they cry (like a girl) in public.
Such a toxic concept of masculinity!
I would like to share the lyrics of a song called Human Heart by Coldplay (Credits:lyricsroll.com)
Boys, Boys Don't Cry
Boys, Keep It All Inside
I Try To Hide It Underneath
Still, My Heart Starts To Beat
My Human Heart
Only Got A Human Heart
I Wish It Didn't Run Away
I Wish It Didn't Fall Apart
Oh! My Human Heart
Night And Day, Light And Dark
Any Day, It Could Be Torn In Half
Only Got A Human Heart
Wake up, people!
Don’t you think that before being a man or a woman, you are a human first? And a human heart is a bundle of emotions.
Maybe a woman has slightly more emotions than a man but that is most likely because she has been given the responsibility by existence to fill the baby inside her with emotions before they step into the world.
So, a boy (or a man) is getting emotions from the same source as a girl/woman.
The article picture that I shared with you is of one of my idols, Roger Federer, crying in front of the whole world, whatever may be the occasion. This crying in front of everyone, according to me, makes him a REAL man.
This crying in front of everyone, according to me, makes him a REAL man.
How to make men more open with mental health issues
- There should be a forum for voicing feelings & emotions honestly and frankly. When a person sees another person going through something similar, it gives the person a sense of belonging, freedom, and courage to speak their hearts out too.
- Changing the notion that therapy is for the weak. We got to make men realize that seeking therapy is akin to going to a gym, both of which are done for self-improvement.
- Someone can start taking teleconsultations or online therapy in which complete secrecy is maintained.
- By making men aware of how great it feels after opening up.
And forget about some handful of people who will say some nasty things about you and your mental issues. They are going to say it anyway. Let’s be more open, shall we?