With increasing awareness of the importance of good mental health worldwide, attention has focused on the need to overcome the negative perceptions and stigma historically attached to mental health issues. One group that this difficulty has been particularly visible for is men; it is well-established that significantly fewer men are diagnosed with or treated for mental health disorders compared to women, with suicide rates being 3 times higher in some countries in men than women.
Why this crisis in men’s mental health exists is a question with complex answers. It requires a better understanding of how men interact with those around them, why they do (or don’t) access support, as well as other social and cultural factors that influence their health seeking behaviours.
Much research has focused on the concept of “masculinity” and the need to question its impact on capacity for emotional communication, service engagement and help-seeking behaviour.
What does it mean to be a man in different contexts across the world? What does it mean to be masculine? Do these concepts affect men’s mental health and if so, in what way? Do they impact on the approaches being taken to tackle this crisis? Can a deeper understanding of the cultural factors at play shed light on more effective solutions?
As the Cultural Contexts of Health and Well-being project works towards the publication of a health evidence synthesis report on masculinities and mental health in the coming months, the team is hosting a webinar to raise awareness of this complex topic. The webinar panel will be comprised of Brendan Gough (Professor of Social Psychology, Leeds Beckett University, United Kingdom); Isabel Yordi Aguirre (Programme Manager, Gender and Human Rights, WHO/Europe) and Giancarlo Gaglione (Founder, Mental Health World Cup in association with Campaign Against Living Miserably).
