The Barbie film was a clever satire about gender inequality, which became one of 2023’s most-talked-about movies. It depicts a fantasy matriarchal society where the Barbies hold all the power and prestigious jobs and the Kens are an afterthought. Barbie has a great day every day – but Ken only has a good day if Barbie looks at him.
Then Barbie and Ken encounter the patriarchy of the real world. Ken feels instantly respected while Barbie feels pervasively unsafe. By the end of the film, though, it’s clear that both the matriarchy and the patriarchy have pitfalls. Barbie and Ken need a more balanced world where they’re both valued. Even the powerful Mattel executives who’ve benefited so much from the patriarchy begin to see how it has also made them feel constrained and careworn, unable to relax and enjoy life.
On many levels, we do live in a man’s world. Across all industries (even female-dominated ones), there’s a gender pay gap that favours men, compounding a 23% superannuation gap. Men who work full-time tend to do far less around the home than women who work full-time. And men are much less likely than women to experience sexual harassment in the workplace or family violence at home.
So, in many ways, things are pretty good for men. But when we scratch below the surface, a different picture emerges, just as it did for the Mattel executives in the Barbie film. When we look at a different set of statistics, it seems our dads, husbands, brothers and sons aren’t doing so well after all.
Exploring men’s mental health
Depictions of what it means to be a real man who’s tough and can ‘man up’ in difficult situations can make men reluctant to access healthcare. Rigid ideas of masculinity see stoicism and self-reliance as virtues. It can mean men minimise their symptoms, delay or avoid healthcare and struggle to overcome internalised stigma and embarrassment.
That results in some grim statistics. Compared to women, men are more likely to:
- Die prematurely
- Drink heavily (1 in 3 will have a substance abuse disorder in their lifetime)
- Smoke
- Be obese.
But men are less likely to see their doctor than women (79% vs 88%) and much less likely to see a mental health professional (12% vs 21%).
That’s not because men are enjoying great mental health. Men’s mental health statistics provided by Men’s Health Week 2024 show that:
- 50% of men will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime
- 75% of suicides are men, making it the leading cause of death for men under 55.
- Men who are not working are 4 times more likely to be depressed
- Men who are separated are 6 times more likely to be depressed
- Men who lack close friends are twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts.
As MensLine Australia notes, several things contribute to poor mental health among men, including:
- Social norms and pressure to be strong, stoic and independent
- Having been taught unhealthy coping mechanisms such as ‘going it alone’ or relying on drugs or alcohol
- Feeling ashamed of their struggles and embarrassed at needing help
- Being unaware of the signs and symptoms of mental health issues in men – when you don’t realise you’re unwell, there’s no reason to seek help in the first place.
Improving mental health for men
So, how do we improve men’s mental health?
It starts young. Let’s stop telling young boys to ‘stop crying’ or ‘toughen up’ and instead encourage them to understand their feelings and work through difficult situations.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps. Regular exercise, for example, releases ‘happy hormones’ that improve your mood and help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Good friendships are also important but they can be squeezed out by time pressure, interstate moves or family changes. Lack of social connection is as bad for you as smoking 15 cigarettes a day yet 1 in 4 men say they have no-one to share their private worries and fears with and 3 in 5 feel they’ve lost contact with friends. We encourage you to make time to connect with your mates. Joining a sports club or a men’s shed can be a good step.
A happy home life can also protect men’s health. Relationship skills can be learnt, meaning you have a chance to improve your intimate relationships and increase your happiness (and your partner’s).
Let’s also help men recognise signs and symptoms of mental health conditions. In men, these may include:
- Irritability, anger or aggression
- Chances in mood and energy levels
- Sleep struggles – sleeping too much or too little
- Feeling restless, on edge and unable to concentrate
- Becoming increasingly reliant on alcohol, drugs or both
- Appetite changes
- Persistent sadness or feeling flat
- Ongoing worry or stress
- Seeking a thrill / engaging in high-risk activities
- Aches, headaches or digestive problems
- Other people becoming concerned about your thoughts or behaviour
- Thinking about death or attempting suicide.
Lastly, let’s create health services that men are willing to attend. Take a look at the Australian Men’s Health Foundation’s guide to male-friendly services.
How can we help?
At Think2Be Healthy, we love helping to create strong families and communities where every person can thrive. If you’d like to hear more from us, please subscribe to our newsletter.
Disclaimer
All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice.
References
Australian Government, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Snapshot of gender inequality in Australia, https://www.pmc.gov.au/publications/wgea-review-report/snapshot-gender-equality-australia, [Accessed 20 May 2024]
Macdonald, J.A., Mansour, K.A, Wynter, K., Francis, L. M., Rogers, A., Angeles, M.R., Pennell, M., Biden, E., Harrison, T., & Smith, I. (2022). Men’s and Boys’ Barriers to Health System Access. A Literature Review. Prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra, https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/men-s-and-boys-barriers-to-health-system-access-a-literature-review.pdf, [Accessed 20 May 2024]
Australian Men’s Health Forum, Men’s mental health, https://www.amhf.org.au/mens_mental_health, [Accessed 20 May 2024]
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Hows does the health of Australian males and females compare? https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/32ea8a7f-50d5-4047-b70b-92dd63d387b8/aihw-phe239-240-factsheet.pdf.aspx, [Accessed 20 May 2024]
Australian Men’s Health Forum, Know your man facts, https://www.amhf.org.au/know_your_man_facts, [Accessed 20 May 2024]
MensLine Australia, Men’s mental health: Common challenges, https://mensline.org.au/mens-mental-health/mens-mental-health-common-challenges/, [Accessed 20 May 2024]
Healthdirect, Exercise and mental health, https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/exercise-and-mental-health, [Accessed 20 May 2024]
Australian Men’s Health Forum, Mateship in crisis, https://www.amhf.org.au/is_australian_mateship_in_crisis, [Accessed 20 May 2024]
MensLine Australia, Relationship goals: Positive relationship advice for men, https://mensline.org.au/relationship-advice-for-men/relationship-goals-positive-relationship-advice-for-men/, [Accessed 20 May 2024]
National Institute of Mental Health, Men and mental health, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health, [Accessed 20 May 2024]
