Here’s a fun fact that’s not actually fun at all: men are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than women, yet they’re significantly less likely to seek mental health treatment. If that math doesn’t make sense to you, welcome to the paradox of men’s mental health.
The statistics are sobering: 75% of suicides in the United States are men, yet only 1 in 3 men who experience mental health issues will seek professional help. We’ll wait until the house is actively burning down before we even consider calling the fire department. And sometimes not even then.
But here’s the plot twist: when men actually do reach out for help, they report overwhelmingly positive experiences. The catastrophe they imagined? It doesn’t materialize.
“I spent literally years dreading making that first appointment,” says David, 38, now six months into CBT. “I had this whole narrative in my head about how it would feel weak or embarrassing. The actual experience? Felt like finally setting down a backpack I’d been carrying for way too long. Honestly, my only regret is not doing it sooner.”
If you’re reading this and thinking “yeah, but I’m fine,” consider: would you really be reading an article about men’s mental health if everything was fine? Asking for help isn’t giving up. It’s growing up.
