Research has shown that while men and women face similar mental health challenges, disproportionately fewer men seek treatment compared to those that need it. Carol Peterson, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the University of Minnesota Physicians (M Physicians) St. Louis Park Clinic Interventional Psychiatry Program, suggests that men may face certain obstacles in getting mental health treatment and offers insight about what they can do to get the care they need.
Signs of mental health struggle
According to Dr. Peterson, one of the first signs of a mental health challenge is having difficulty engaging in usual activities, including difficulty in concentrating, maintaining relationships or attending work or school.
Signs of potential mental health challenges also include:
- Depressed or irritable mood
- Losing interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
- Having low levels of energy
- Experiencing increased feelings of fear, worry or panic
- Changes in eating patterns, increases in activity levels, preoccupation with weight and shape or constant thoughts about eating
“If suddenly the things that you cared about don't hold any interest for you, that's an indication that you may be struggling with clinical depression,” says Dr. Peterson.
Feelings of fear, worry and panic might be an indication of an anxiety disorder. Changes in eating and exercise behaviors accompanied by a preoccupation with food and weight might indicate an eating disorder.
“One of the myths about eating disorders is that they primarily impact women and girls, but what we know is that girls and women are much more likely to seek treatment. We see eating disorders very commonly in males of all ages.”
Barriers to mental health diagnosis and treatment
In general, common barriers that keep people from seeking mental health diagnosis and treatment are access to care, stigma and gender bias.
“Access to care is just a huge problem in mental health,” Dr. Peterson says. Oftentimes, even if people want to seek treatment, they struggle with it for various reasons, whether it’s because of finances, distance or mobility.
Stigma is another significant barrier that prevents people from seeking mental healthcare, particularly among men.
“What we see oftentimes is that people are raised to believe that they should be able to solve their problems on their own, that seeking mental health treatment is sort of an indication of something they shouldn't need help with doing.”
Dr. Peterson explains that for some men, the fear of being criticized or judged for seeking mental health treatment can feel overwhelming, but once they begin seeking care, the majority are comfortable with it.
Gender bias also contributes to the stigma men may experience with mental health. According to Dr. Peterson, many mental health clinics and treatments are geared more toward women than men because women have been historically more likely to seek treatment.
“Mental health conditions we know are less likely to be diagnosed in men,” she says. Some of this difference is due to stigma, but it’s also due to bias. “Across diagnostic categories, we know that men are underrepresented in treatment even though they struggle with the same issues that women do.”
Breaking past the barriers
While seeking mental healthcare can feel challenging, Dr. Peterson offers guidance on how to overcome stigma and other barriers.
First, she suggests finding someone you trust and talking to them about how you’re feeling. “Going with someone to an appointment for the first time or just reaching out to someone you trust oftentimes really helps people feel more comfortable in taking that next step,” she says.
It can also be helpful to go in for an evaluation to get a better idea of where your struggles are, and then figure out what’s next. “What we recommend is at least just going for an evaluation,” Dr. Peterson says. “If you have any questions at all you can start with your primary care doctor, get evaluated and then really go from there.”
You can find a primary care provider with M Physicians and make an appointment here.
Finally, for individuals who’ve sought treatment before but are still looking for help, Dr. Peterson says it might be time to seek care with a specialist, like a University physician at the M Physicians St. Louis Park Clinic, who is engaged in researching and bringing new mental health treatments to patients.
“It's an incredibly exciting time around innovations and interventions and treatment for mental health conditions,” she says. “For anyone who's sought treatment and struggled, there are innovative approaches that are being developed and tested so that we have a further reach in helping more people who've continued to struggle with mental health.”
Taking care of mental health is important. Whether it is the start of your mental health journey or you’ve been on the road for a while, M Physicians behavioral health clinicians are ready to help you.