Last month, health insurance business owner and speaker Lester Morales
“If the statistics are right, we’re surrounded by men who are not doing well,” he says. “How do we acknowledge that the person sitting next to us is not doing well and open the door to a conversation?”
According to a CDC report, of the approximately 50,000 suicides in 2022 (out of 1.6 million suicide attempts), about 80% were men.
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Men are less likely to talk about their mental health concerns or seek help, and their symptoms are more likely to go untreated, due to factors like social stigma and a general lack of knowledge about mental health. In 2021, the National Mental Health Association found that of men who reported a mental illness, only 40% received treatment for their symptoms, compared to more than half of women.
Poor mental health not only has a negative impact on people’s health, it also has significant implications for businesses: Depression alone costs employers approximately $187.8 billion per year, according to data from the Meadows Institute for Mental Health Policy Research.
While men in certain industries (construction, agriculture, manufacturing, etc.) and demographics (American Indian, Alaska Native, white) are at higher risk for mental health issues, life-altering circumstances do not discriminate. All men can benefit from taking an active role in eradicating the stigma that men are expected to just weather difficult times. Building trusting relationships with other men is a good place to start.
“We need to redefine masculinity,” says Dr. Joel Ackler, a psychiatrist and strategic benefits adviser at Brown & Brown. “It’s okay to connect with other men and show vulnerability.”
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Dr. Ackler notes that the topic of men’s mental health is becoming more prevalent, with celebrities like Tom Brady, Brad Pitt, and Ryan Phelps speaking publicly about their personal struggles and the benefits of therapy. Great role models can also be found in the workplace, he says, highlighting the power of male leaders who promote mental health and wellness by sharing their own experiences, combined with employee resources, peer groups, good health insurance, and flexibility.
“It’s a work-life balance issue, and employers need to be flexible to allow for that,” says Dr. Ackler. The steps he recommends for many of his male patients to combat loneliness and build relationships — talking to people, joining social organizations like book clubs or sports teams — can be done through structured groups in the workplace and don’t have to be limited to men.
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To ensure the positives outweigh the negatives, Morales keeps a gratitude journal and makes a conscious effort to check in with his core group of male friends regularly. As an employer, he leads by example by identifying and encouraging work-life balance for his employees, allowing time for rejuvenation through travel, exercise and time with friends and family. Leaders must take the initiative to create a culture where people feel comfortable speaking up about what they need, he says.
“You have to stand on stage and say, ‘This is important,’” he says. “It has to be human-centric, but it also has to have a positive ROI. [and] If you feel better as a person, you will perform better at work.”
Despite his openness, Morales feels pressured to present only an image of strength and success to the world. The feedback he’s received on his LinkedIn post proves he’s not alone in feeling that way. Becoming more comfortable discussing men’s mental health is a matter of progress, not perfection. Every step counts, he says.
“We all struggle,” he said. “It was great to share and see what people are struggling with. If you know someone who is struggling, open your door to them.”
