Men are not used to getting the proper guidance to preserve their mental health.
The topic “Mental Health and Men” was in focus during a lunchtime panel hosted by NALIS at the National Library on Monday
The panel was a section of a series that served as part of the build-up to today’s commemoration of International Men’s Day.
Psychologist Justin Rodriguez said that unfortunately, most men don’t realise that mental health goes beyond that of mental illness. He explained that most people have coping mechanisms that they use to protect their psyche from his example of hiking to listening to music or in the case of many men, drinking alcohol.
“We also have to be mindful of what methods we use to cope because that then now becomes if every time we feel stressed or overwhelmed or frustrated we go and take a drink, and that then becomes a medical concern,” Rodriguez warned.
He added, “Yes it is your way of coping but how healthy is it in the long run?”
Rodiguez said that men should be taught from a young age how to better manage their emotions.
“Allow them to express their emotions, allow them to express themselves, allow them to understand what they are experiencing and what they are going through, how it is affecting them, how we can resolve this situation, how they could move forward in a healthy way,” said Rodriguez.
He said with a change in their socialisation, young men would make better decisions with emotions such as anger.
“Boys tend to easier express their emotions such as anger as opposed to expressing hurt or guilt. So it’s easier to let me display anger than to display that I’m hurt. And have boys from a young age understand well it’s ok to feel anger but you don’t have to express it in an angry way. Have them understand how to process their emotions and really understand how they feel when they feel that emotion.”
Kevin Liverpool of the fatherhood Resource Centre also called for a change in socialisation, as he stressed the importance of men sharing the domestic workload at home to increase equality in the household.
“ It can be linked to a reduction in rates of men’s violence against women, engaged fatherhood has positive impacts on boys and girls and has positive impacts on the relationships they will have as adults. Girls are more empowered when fathers are involved and boys are more likely to believe in gender equality and equality within the home if they see their fathers playing an active role,” said Liverpool.
The theme for International Men’s Day this year is “Making a Difference for Men and Boys”.