The Voice of Southwest Louisiana June 2019 Issue

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Peace from Pieces By Carra Sergeant, Ph. D.; LPC-S Licensed Professional Counselor June is Men’s Health Month, so that makes it a perfect time for us to talk about “the elephant in the room”: is your man MENtally Healthy? The escalating incidence of mental health issues in males is staggering. Generations of male socialization that reinforce the notion of the “strong silent type” have created a society where many men around the world suffer from mental health difficulties in silence. Let’s shed some light on this silent crisis. THE STATISTICS There is a tragic intersection of low rates of diagnosed depression and high rates of suicide and substance abuse among the U.S. male population. Men account for 75 percent of all suicide victims in the U.S., with one man taking his own life every 20 minutes. Worldwide, men are 37.5 times more likely than women to take their own lives. Due to the stigma attached, men are less likely to ask for help and often do not enter the mental health system until a crisis occurs. Mental Health America (see link below) states that men are more predisposed to the following mental health issues: •• Over 6 million men suffer from varying degrees of undiagnosed depression. •• Anxiety and panic disorders affect MENtal Heath: Addressing the Silent Crisis at least ½ million men. They are too ashamed to ask for help. •• 90% of all Americans diagnosed with Psychosis or Schizophrenia are males. •• Males account for 10% of patients diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia and 35% of those diagnosed with binge-eating disorder. •• Men are twice as likely to suffer from alcoholism or other substance abuse disorders. WHY IS THERE SUCH A GAP BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN? There are several possible reasons for the gender disparity in mental health issues: Men are struggling to fill the breadwinner role: Traditional societal norms position men to be the primary financial provider in the home. However, the inclusion of women in previously male dominated industries has left many men in certain regions unemployed. Women are now as large a part of the national workforce as men. This can be quite a blow to the male whose identity is tied into being the “breadwinner”. Lines between work life and personal life get blurred: In many cases, a man’s sense of self-worth is linked to how much money he earns. This, combined with advances in technology, has made it such that some people never really escape the office. Over time, this can cause great stress and lead to depression. 20 June 2019 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 6 • Number 11
Social media: This is not only a problem that affects men, but it’s easy to feel as though others are doing better than we are because on social media we see everyone’s holiday celebrations, vacations and gourmet dinners. When a person feels that something is lacking in his or her life, that sadness can pave a direct path to depression. Some groups of men feel rejected: There are very high rates of mental illness among veterans and gay men. Some have attributed this to the fact that these groups of men may feel (whether it is real or not) rejected by society and mainstream media. Sadly, many men quietly struggle with a mental health issue for long periods of time without any treatment. Through thousands of years of male socialization, certain definitions of what is and isn’t manly have been created. Rather than openly discuss problems, the more “manly” thing to do is “tough it out” on your own. This is something that is drilled into male psyches from birth. The term “man up” does not mean to go talk to people about your problems and ask for help. Wanting to be like their male heroes and likely following the examples men in their lives set, boys are taught from an early age to suppress their emotions. By the time they become adults, many are unable to properly express any emotion other than anger. The longer the condition remains untreated, the more severe the problem potentially comes. WHAT ARE OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTORS? Other reasons why depression in men often remains undiagnosed include: •• Failure to recognize symptoms: Most people assume that feeling sad or emotional are the signs to look for when diagnosing depression. However, depression in men often shows up as irritability, anger, hostility, risk taking and escaping behavior. •• Ignoring or minimizing symptoms and signs: Many men assume they will just get over whatever problems are plaguing them and end up downplaying the impact the problem is having on their lives. They often assume that the problem will go away on its own. •• Reluctance to talk about the problem: Men don’t generally discuss problems openly with close friends, so speaking to a mental health professional about them is even more unlikely. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM? The stigma of asking for help must be eliminated. Given the extremely high rates of depression and substance abuse among men, it is clear that mental illness in the male population requires extra attention. Perhaps the first step in the process involves changing the narrative about what it means to be a man. While it will take a considerable effort to undo several millennia of male socialization, boys need to have it impressed upon them that reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness. That will be difficult, however, considering the myriad subliminal messages prevalent throughout our culture; you see these male depictions in literature, television, movies, and in sports. The athlete who “plays through the injury” is always considered tougher and stronger than the one who isn’t able to do so. How do we as a culture on one hand tell our sons that they should speak up and ask for help when the majority of the idealized fictional and real-life men in our culture are celebrated for not doing so? Another step our society can take is to stop normalizing destructive behaviors in men by explaining it away as “boys being boys.” This age-old justification only serves to enable the behavior to continue. There needs to be increased attention to the unique needs of males. The good news is that as male celebrities and sports figures increasingly share their experiences with mental illness, the stigma of seeking treatment should continue to diminish. Recognition that mental illness is no different than physical illness in that it is not a moral failing or a choice can help people feel more comfortable with treatment seeking. There are also now many more options for men to become aware of and manage their mental health than in the past. Downloading a mood tracker (yes… there’s an app for that) can be a good first step towards improving awareness of mental health by helping you notice patterns or tendencies. It can also help you take a more objective view of how you’re doing, allowing you to view emotions on a longer time scale and less caught up in the moment. Taking care of your body is essential, but remember, your mind matters also. KEEP IT HEALTHY! Check out the following links for more info: Mental Health America https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/ infographic-mental-health-men Men and Mental Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/menand-mental-health/index.shtml Man Therapy https://www.mantherapy.org/ If you struggling with depression, anxiety or relationship issues, please call for an appointment: Carra Sergeant, PhD, LPC PEACE FROM PIECES COUNSELING SERVICES For an appointment, call 337-515-6716 Website: peacefrompieces.net Volume 6 • Number 11 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM June 2019 21
Page 1 and 2: June 2019 Vol 6 No 11 Seven Days of
Page 3 and 4: editor’s Deep in the Wetlands is
Page 5 and 6: SWLA news Contributed Article SWLA
Page 7 and 8: SWLA health, wealth & wellness Info
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Page 13 and 14: Rufus and Johnson, brother, still e
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Page 17 and 18: Helping families care for their lov
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The Voice of Southwest Louisiana June 2019 Issue

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