In honor of National Men’s Health Month in June, and just after the conclusion of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we want to highlight the significance of mental health for everyone. However, it’s important to note that certain populations may be more affected by mental health challenges and symptoms than others.
Understanding How Mental Health Impacts Different Groups
According to Verywell Mind, men are statistically two to four times more likely to die by suicide than women. This is often attributed to social norms and expectations leading men to downplay symptoms and be reluctant to voice struggles or seek care. Men of color may face additional challenges when it comes to their mental health because of generational racial trauma.
According to a recent Forbes article, more than one in five women in the U.S. experienced a mental health condition in the past year. Certain mental health conditions, like depression and bipolar disorder, affect more women than men.
Forbes also notes that young adults ages 18 to 25 in the U.S. experience the highest rates of mental illness (36.2%), followed by those ages 26 to 49 (29.4%) and adults ages 50 and over (13.9%).
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, diverse populations such as racial/ethnic and LGBTQ+ groups often face long-lasting consequences related to mental health. Common reasons include a lack of available treatment, the belief that treatment doesn’t work, and a system that’s weighted heavily toward values and norms that aren’t geared toward all populations.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community are twice as likely to experience a mental health condition as heterosexual adults. Transgender adults are nearly four times as likely to experience a mental health condition as those who are cisgender.
Fighting the Stigma
One of the best ways to fight the stigma surrounding mental health for all populations is to educate yourself and others about mental health and its symptoms. For example, men might feel more physiological symptoms, like a racing heart, digestive issues or headaches, and feelings of anger, aggression and irritability.
Another way to fight the stigma is to open up and find support in those you trust, such as your family members, friends, coworkers, people within your place of worship or a therapist. When you open up to someone else, you also allow them to feel comfortable talking to you about what they’re going through. For a step-by-step guide to start the conversation, check out this guide by 1in5info.
Utilizing Resources
There are many resources readily available to you for finding support and learning more about mental health. Check out these resources below.
For USLI employees and families: Visit the USLI Family Portal’s Wellness tab to find mental health resources. Organizations and hotlines for in-the-moment support are listed toward the bottom of the page.
Men’s mental health: Click here for more information about men’s mental health. For resources specific to black men, visit https://blackmenheal.org/. Listen to the Visible Man Podcast and find their peer support network at https://www.visibleman.org/.
Women’s mental health: Click here to access women’s mental health challenges and resources.
LGBTQ+ mental health: Click here to access LGBTQ+ mental health challenges and resources.
Black, indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) mental health: Click here to access BIPOC mental health challenges and resources. Visit this page to access black mental health challenges and resources.
Military mental health: Click here to access military personnel mental health challenges and resources.
Teen mental health: Click here to access teen mental health challenges and resources.
When it comes to mental health, you are not alone. Remember: You have the strength and resilience within you to overcome any obstacle.
by Megan DiPietro
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