Why Are So Many Men Struggling With Their Mental Health?

A quiet crisis, with loud consequences...

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the quiet battles many men fight. We see the surface — the strength, the composure, the hustle — but rarely the weight underneath.

Why are so many men silently struggling with their mental health?

It’s a quiet crisis—loud in consequence but often silent in expression. Across the world, more men are silently battling mental health issues, and the toll is rising.

But why?

Let’s talk about it—honestly, humanly, without the fluff.

1. The Weight of Expectations

Many boys learn a simple rule from an early age: never display weakness. The message is subtle but consistent: crying is seen as soft, vulnerability is considered risky, and asking for help is viewed as unthinkable. Unthinkable.

So, what happens?

Pain goes underground.
Fear gets buried.
Men tend to suppress their emotions until they begin to surface as anger, isolation, or numbness.

Traditional masculinity teaches men to be stoic, strong, and self-sufficient. But the pressure to hold everything in often becomes unbearable.

2. Stigma Is Still Loud

Although we've made significant progress in discussing mental health, many men still experience shame when admitting their struggles. The fear of being labelled as "weak" or "unstable" keeps them silent, even when they're drowning inside.

This stigma doesn’t just discourage openness. It delays help. And when support comes too late, the consequences can be devastating.

Philip Dimka at a CreoTribe event in Jos.

3. Lack of Meaningful Support

Many men don’t have safe spaces to talk about what’s really going on. Friendships can be more surface-level. Emotional check-ins are rare.

Without that web of support, stress feels heavier. Anxiety grows. Depression deepens. And because they feel alone in it, many men stay stuck in the silence.

4. Unhealthy Coping: Substance Use

Rather than seeking support, many men resort to substances such as alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviours to alleviate their distress. It numbs the pain temporarily but creates a deeper pit long-term.

It’s not just a harmful habit. It’s often a sign of unspoken grief, pressure, or trauma.

5. Workplace Pressure and Identity

Many men strongly associate their identity with their work. Job loss, burnout, or a lack of purpose at work can trigger a significant emotional upheaval. And because we rarely ask men how their hearts are doing—only how their careers are going—this kind of stress often goes unnoticed.

6. Mental Health Often Misses Them

Did you know men are more likely to be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed when it comes to mental health?

This is partly because men often exhibit different symptoms, such as irritability, risk-taking, or anger, rather than the typical sign of sadness. But the systems we have in place don’t always catch those signs.

7. The Most Alarming Statistic: Suicide

This one is challenging to say but necessary: Men are nearly 4 times more likely to die by suicide than women. Particularly, older men frequently experience heightened isolation, health problems, and insufficient assistance.

These aren't just numbers. They're fathers. Brothers. Friends. Colleagues.
Many men pass away prematurely, frequently due to a lack of confidence in their ability to communicate.

So What Can We Do?

We can start here:

• Talk. Ask men how they’re really doing—and stick around for the real answer.

• Listen. Don't pass judgment or attempt to correct them. Just be there.

• Normalise Therapy. Healing isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.

• Build Support. Encourage real friendships, emotional honesty, and spaces where men can exhale.

• Challenge the Old Scripts. "Man up" doesn’t work. Let’s write new ones that make space for pain, processing, and peace.

Mental health doesn’t wear a gender. However, the way we address mental health issues does vary by gender.

It’s time we changed that.

Men's mental health is of utmost importance. It's not limited to times of crisis. Always.

Thrive!