Men and Mental Health

Local psychotherapist speaks on mental health amid new study showing six million U.S. men a ected by depression.

Information released by Mental Health America, a national nonpro t “dedicated to the promotion of mental health” through public education, research advocacy, public policy, and direct service, showed that, out of 151,781,326 people in the male population of the U.S., about six million are a ected by depression.

Mental Health America said depression o en goes undiagnosed in men and is one of ve major mental health problems a ecting men. Others include anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis and schizophrenia, and eating disorders.

According to Rick Harrell of RH Counseling Services in Memphis, men are less likely to seek out mental health services. A January 2023 report from Statista estimated that 12.1 percent of U.S. men received mental health treatment or counseling in the past year (2021).

more of an emphasis on mental health recently, which has resulted in more men enrolling in counseling services.

A poll issued by East Tennessee State University (ETSU) showed that the mental health of Tennesseans was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. A poll conducted by the Applied Social Research Laboratory at ETSU concluded that “4.6 percent of Tennesseans were symptomatic of anxiety and 27.1 percent were symptomatic of depressive disorder.”

While the pandemic undoubtedly had an e ect on mental health, it also led to more people seeking out counseling and therapy services. e National Library of Medicine reported that as of September 2020, men sought out these services at a higher rate than women.

Harrell has seen this in his own practice, as well. In his 24 years of practice, he’s seen a majority of his male patients coming as a result of being pushed or ordered to attend — as a result of a court order or couple’s counseling. He has recently seen a shi , where more men are coming on their own accord.

“A lot of that comes from the various stigmas that come along with getting help,” said Harrell. “[Like] if you seek out help in some way, you’re crazy, or all the stigmas that come with that. Men also internalize things more than women do, and they try to just deal with it on their own.” e information compiled by Mental Health America states that some of the reasons men fail to seek help are societal norms, reluctance to talk, and downplaying of symptoms.

While these stigmas have always existed, Harrell said there has been

“I have seen over the last few years, post-pandemic, more men take the initiative to seek out therapy on their own,” said Harrell. “I think we’re becoming more knowledgeable about it, and I think the stigmas that have been associated with getting mental health services, we’re beginning to dispel some of those things.

“It’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to stay not okay,” said Harrell. “Knowing that there’s help out here, and you can heal from the issues. … I think when we keep it in the forefront and we continue to dispel the myths and the stigmas that center around mental health and educate our communities, we begin to make some improvements in that space.”