Men’s Mental Health in India: Key Points
- High Suicide Rates Among Men: 2021, over 73,900 more men than women died by suicide in India. disparity is evident across all adult age groups, with particularly high rates among men aged 18–59.
- Stigma and Underreporting: Approximately 40% of men in India do not openly discuss their mental health due to societal stigma and misconceptions, such as the belief that men should handle their problems independently.
- Treatment Gap:
- India has a significant treatment gap for mental disorders, estimated at 85%, indicating that a large proportion of those needing mental health services do not receive them.
- Economic Impact:
- The economic loss due to mental health conditions in India between 2012 and 2030 is estimated at USD 1.03 trillion, highlighting the significant financial burden of untreated mental health issues.
Factors Behind Men’s Poor Mental Health:
- Traditional Gender Roles
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- Men are conditioned to suppress emotions and avoid vulnerability.
- Stigma Around Mental Health
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- Seeking help is seen as weakness; issues are often ignored.
- Pressure to Conform to Masculine Stereotypes
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- Men face immense pressure to perform, succeed, and uphold the image of masculinity.
- Poor Emotional Vocabulary
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- Lack of encouragement to express emotions leads to internalized stress.
- Workplace Stress
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- Toxic competitiveness fosters burnout, anxiety, and mental exhaustion.
- Family Pressures
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- Burdened by breadwinner roles, relationship challenges remain unresolved.
Impacts of Men’s Poor Mental Health
- Emotional Isolation
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- Men feel disconnected from family, friends, and society due to suppressed emotions.
- Physical Health Decline
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- Leads to issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, and weakened immunity.
- Aggression and Violence
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- Repressed emotions result in anger and harmful behaviors, straining relationships.
- Reduced Workplace Productivity
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- Stress and burnout decrease focus and efficiency.
- Relationship Struggles
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- Poor communication causes conflicts and weakens personal bonds.
- Substance Abuse
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- Coping through alcohol or drugs worsens health and perpetuates the cycle.
- High Suicide Rates
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- Men are more likely to die by suicide due to untreated depression and isolation.
Government Initiatives:
- Mental Healthcare Act 2017: Decriminalized suicide attempts, recognising the need for care and rehabilitation rather than punishment.
- Kiran Helpline: Launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, this 24/7 helpline (1800-599-0019) provides mental health support in multiple languages.
Addressing men’s mental health in India requires continued efforts to reduce stigma, expand access to mental health services, and implement targeted interventions to support men’s psychological well-being.
