Member-only story
The Stigma Surrounding Men Seeking Help
It must stop
Society is funny. On the one hand, they act like mental illness is contagious and shun those who live with it, and on the other hand, they say that they are angry that taxpayers must foot part of the bill to help people get well.
In either circumstance, stigma, aka discrimination, against those with any mental health condition is a tremendous problem that must be addressed. This is especially true of men who encounter stigma from society who tell them they must be stoic and strong.
This article will discuss the stigma surrounding men and how society has driven them into emotional prison.
The Great Disconnection
White men in the United States are in a crisis as they have less sway over the country than other demographics, such as Spanish-speaking people. This fact, coupled with the opioid epidemic, has conspired to leave many men lost and falling behind.
It isn’t only white men who are in crisis, as one study reported that more than 11% of men ages 25–54 are unemployed and not looking for work (Krueger, 2016). The same research found that nearly half of the men who are not working or looking for work take pain medication daily, making them victims of the opioid crisis.
