How Men Can Challenge the Stigma Associated with Therapy
How Men Can Challenge the Stigma Associated with Therapy
The world is a challenging place for everyone, but not everyone faces it with the support they need. According to a study from the National Institutes of Health, many men feel societal pressure to never ask for help. With online therapy and other mental health resources becoming more available, it’s become easier for men to get help, but the stigma around going to therapy still remains.1
Men need therapy, too
Research shows that men don’t take as much advantage of the mental health resources available to them as women do. Even though the number of men who sought mental health care rose 500% during the COVID-19 pandemic, 25% more women seek treatment than men, according to research by Georgetown professor Derek Griffiths.2
The consequences of not seeking care are significant. Serious mental health concerns, like anxiety, depression and addiction, can become more debilitating if they aren’t addressed sooner rather than later. Research by the National Institute for Mental Health has found that men are four times more likely to die by suicide than women.3
Keep reading to learn more about ways men can overcome the stigma of seeking therapy.
Break down cost barriers
For some men, the cost of therapy might make it even harder to consider getting help. Some therapists accept insurance, while others don’t. And even if insurance is accepted, there are typically additional fees like co-pays or deductibles that are part of the cost of working with a therapist. If you think therapy is out of your budget, you might consider using some form of credit, such as a credit card or a personal loan that you can use to cover medical and mental health care expenses. For some, medical loans may be more convenient than paying for therapy with a credit card because they typically offer fixed monthly payments and fixed interest rates.
Customizing therapy for men
A growing number of therapists are customizing their approaches to better support men, according to Baltimore Therapy Group therapist Heather Lyons. This may include strategies such as incorporating regular exercise and setting clear, achievable goals to help men track their progress. “The incorporation of strategies like mindfulness and physical activity not only fosters cognition and self-awareness but also helps men make consistent strides in their psychotherapy journey.”4
And some mental health care providers are trying to encourage men to take care of their emotional well-being by providing support in nontraditional settings, where men may find it easier to talk. For example, the ManKind Project offers programs that help men build interpersonal and emotional skills and find support from peers in ways that don’t feel like therapy.5 Instead, the organization offers workshops, in-person and online peer discussion groups and retreats.
How therapy can help men
Developing better coping skills is a big part of managing everyday life. Some common skills a therapist could help men with include:
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Challenging negative self-talk: Speaking negatively to and about yourself can affect how you show up in the world. Therapy may help you understand the root of why you treat yourself a certain way and provide tools to improve your self-talk.
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Building self-confidence: Just because a man might seem confident on the outside doesn’t mean he feels that way on the inside. Learning to appreciate and accept who you are and what you bring to the world are skills a therapist can help you develop.
- Learning self-care: Thinking about what you enjoy doing in your spare time, what fills your cup and how to take time for yourself could help you cope with more trying times. Self-care could be as simple as exercising every day, making time to see friends and taking breaks from the internet. Therapy is also a form of self-care.
Change and growth
Reaching out to a therapist and asking for help, no matter what you’re going through, can be a difficult step for anyone. For men in particular, going against social norms and expectations by looking for support can be a difficult hurdle to cross. But by breaking down cost barriers, taking advantage of therapy models customized for men and understanding the benefits of emotional self care, men may find it a little easier to reach out for the care they need.
Sources
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8832600/
- https://www.aamc.org/news/men-and-mental-health-what-are-we-missing
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide
- https://www.therapistsinbaltimore.com/therapy-insights-blog/2024/10/6/redefining-therapy-for-men-can-action-oriented-approaches-help-overcome-the-stigma
- https://mkpusa.org/.