Strong, Silent, Struggling: Men’s Mental Health

Boys have been raised with "Be a man." or "Boys don't cry." Phrases that quietly teaches boys to disconnect — from pain, from vulnerability, and eventually, from themselves. Boys are taught that they have no emotions. The only acceptable emotion has been anger that men are allowed to express. Crying is considered as weakness. Asking for help is shameful. Vulnerability is feminized and devalued. The result of the above is stress, depression, anxiety and emotional dysregulation. This in turn affects their relationships, both personal and professional. It also impacts physical health like gut health, fatigue, aches, and more. June is Men’s Health Month — and we take a glance at men's mental health.

Toxic Masculinity

• Emotional Suppression:

Toxic masculinity teaches boys and men that showing emotions — especially sadness, fear, or vulnerability — is a sign of weakness.

• Pressure to Dominate

It equates masculinity with power, control, and dominance — in relationships, workplaces, and even friendships. This can lead to rigid gender roles, aggression, and difficulty forming emotionally equal relationships.

• Shame Around Help-Seeking

Men are discouraged from seeking mental health support or talking about struggles. Admitting pain is often seen as “unmanly,” which causes many to suffer in silence — sometimes leading to substance abuse, violence, or suicide.

• Internalized Self-Worth Tied to Roles

Men are often taught that their worth is tied to being providers and protectors. When they face job loss, failure, or disability, it can lead to identity crises and deep shame.

Men's Mental Health: The Silent Struggle

While these ideals may appear subtle, they manifest powerfully in adult life:

• Men often suppress sadness, grief, fear and anxiety until it becomes rage, addiction, or shutdown.

• Many don’t have the vocabulary to express emotional pain — because they were never allowed to feel it safely.

• Seeking therapy is viewed as a failure of strength, not an act of courage.

India has one of the highest suicide rates among men in the world.

According to NCRB data, over 70% of suicide deaths in India are men. Daily-wage earners, farmers, and unemployed men are among the highest affected.

In most Indian communities, a man’s identity is tied to his role as a provider, protector and problem-solver

When men can’t live up to these roles for whatever reason, they're made to feel intense shame. They tend to self-blame, and even isolate instead of finding a safe space to address their struggles. Very few men are receptive of therapy.

Break the Stigma

To all men:

It starts with rewriting the rules you lived under all your life.

• You experience all emotions. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

• Anger is the only emotion you recognize as it was the only one that was permitted.

• You can give yourself permission to feel sadness, joy, anxiety, fear and so many more.

• Shutdowns or outbursts are not the only expressions of emotions you've learnt and it shows up everywhere.

• It's okay to cry. Tears are a way of regulating our emotions and it's as normal as breathing.

• Suppressing emotions create physical health issues, mental health struggles and unhealthy relationships.

• Healing may require unlearning generations of silence.

Normalize Taking Help

Men don't need to be strong all the time. They are humans and bound to break at some point. They deserve to be heard without being shamed for struggling. Talking to friends, family or support groups that provide a safe space or going for therapy can help navigate life better. Most therapists create a safe space to explore mental health without judgement and to meet them where they are.

If we want a future where men feel whole, not hardened — we need to redefine what strength looks like. Strength is crying. Strength is asking for help. Strength is saying, “I’m not okay” — and trusting that someone will hear you.

Let’s create a culture where that kind of strength is not just allowed — it’s honored.