Men’s Mental Health: Why Struggling With Vulnerability Hurts Everyone

In recent years, we’ve seen growing awareness around men’s mental health — but despite this, men continue to suffer in silence.

Men die by suicide at rates 3–4 times higher than women (WHO, 2021).

Men are less likely to seek therapy, admit they’re struggling, or even recognize when they’re depressed.

Why?

Because from a young age, most men are taught a dangerous lesson:

Vulnerability is weakness.

Why Men Struggle With Vulnerability

Many boys grow up hearing things like:

• “Man up.”

• “Don’t cry.”

• “Be strong, don’t be soft.”

• “Stop being a baby.”

Over time, these messages shape a man’s emotional world.

They learn:

To suppress feelings like sadness, fear, or shame.

That anger is one of the only “acceptable” emotions.

That asking for help or showing vulnerability makes them less “manly.”

By the time they’re adults, many men don’t even have the language to name what they feel — let alone the tools to process it.

Why This Hurts Men

Suppressing vulnerability comes at a steep cost:

• Mental health struggles: Depression, anxiety, and stress often go untreated.

• Loneliness: Without emotional openness, many men feel isolated even in relationships.

• Health risks: Unaddressed mental health issues can lead to substance abuse, heart problems, or suicide.

• Relationship strain: Without vulnerability, communication and connection break down.

Why This Hurts Women + Partners

It’s not just men who suffer — the women and partners who love them do too.

Many women in relationships with men report feeling:

• Shut out or emotionally disconnected.

• Burdened as the only emotional caretaker.

• Helpless watching their partner struggle in silence.

• Frustrated by cycles of anger, withdrawal, or shutdown.

The truth is: we all need men to be emotionally healthy — for their sake and ours.

We need men who can show up vulnerably, communicate openly, and share the weight of emotional labor.

How Can We Support Men’s Mental Health?

-Challenge the old narratives.

-Stop glorifying toughness or stoicism as “real masculinity.” Teach boys (and men) that strength includes softness.

-Normalize therapy + emotional support.

Therapy isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a tool for growth and resilience.

-Encourage emotional literacy.

Help men name, understand, and express what they’re feeling. Build the language they may have never been taught.

-Create safe spaces.

Men need environments (friendships, relationships, groups) where they can practice vulnerability without judgment.

-Recognize the shared impact.

Healthy masculinity benefits everyone — families, partners, communities. When men heal, we all heal.

Let’s Stop Saying “Man Up” — And Start Saying “Speak Up”

Men deserve full, rich emotional lives.

They deserve to be supported, heard, and healed — not shamed into silence.

And the people who love them deserve to experience them in their wholehearted humanity.

If you’re a man struggling, or if you love someone who is, help is available.

Therapy, support groups, and open conversations can change lives — and even save them. We run men and vulnerability groups intermittently and offer individual and couples therapy for men and their relationships. Book a free consultation now to see how therapy can help you improve your life.

Book a Free Consultation Now