Males Mental Health

This section includes resources and downloads specifically for males (across the lifespan). Please check out additional downloads and many other formal sites in different areas here. Thanks!

Boys??**crickets**…There’s very little to no information about mental health specifically for young males. There are general websites for children and technically before puberty, there are few differences as far as cognitive development. Behaviorally? there are HUGE differences, so it’s disappointing when you see that males are overall ignored or stigmatized. There are also many teen websites, (below), but the point is why start addressing male mental health as a teen when you can help them a lot sooner?  Here are some general concerns:

When talking to your child about mental health, it is important to know what warning signs to look for that indicate they may need additional support. Because every child is different, warning signs may look different from child to child. However, there are some common ones to pay attention to. If you notice these signs in your child, it is important to address them and know when and how to get help:

• Changes in school performance or poor grades despite strong efforts
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive worry or anxiety (e.g… refusing to go to bed or school)
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggression
• Frequent temper tantrums or outbursts of anger
• Any substance use
• Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Changes in ability to manage responsibilities – at home and/or at school
• Withdrawal from activities they once loved
• Persistent sadness and/or hopelessness
• Defiance of authority, truancy, theft, and/or vandalism
• Risky sexual activity
• Intense fear

For more details on mental health concerns in your child, visit On Our Sleeves

–Boys and Girls Club

…Some Tips

I’ve written about several of these topics in the Kid’s Section, but overall almost every topic above easily be overwhelming if it’s a single issue, let alone multiple problems or other factors i.e. poverty, chronic illness, etc. Anyway, here are some of the general tips that I give about raising healthy functional boys:

• Do NOT reward bad behaviors: the kid will get worse, build consistent boundaries, and reward mainly good behavior, with bonus points (gifts) only if they’re doing exceptionally well such as honors… In other words, don’t spoil a child and try to let them earn something. If the parent rewards anything and everything, it’ll mean NOTHING to the kid..
• Do NOT be overly critical: this can destroy confidence/self-esteem and their mood so if you’re dealing with difficult behaviors, please get support and backup… you don’t want the kid to assume ONLY the parent/guardian has something critical to say.. and correct with love, patience, and compassion.
• Do NOT mesh/lack boundaries: sometimes I have to tell parents what’s not appropriate and why…I do plan on doing a write-up about this because I’m big on boundaries.. especially with kids, or you risk handicapping them/life-long confusion and mental problems. Do not try to be the enemy or their best friend.
• Take steps/precautions with major home changes. I have some parents who would try to turn the home into a BootCamp facility overnight. Do NOT do this… implement changes starting with a conversation (your concerns, the child’s responsibilities and expectations, and the purpose of the changes, and discuss the consequences)..many kids really don’t know why they’re being punished even if it’s obvious…sometimes the parents would assume their “manipulative” but I respond how it doesn’t matter (because parents can be manipulative and act innocent as well). I try to warn parents you risk the child/teen becoming angrier since you let them do whatever and now you transformed into a parole officer. I’m not being dramatic but this is how it’s processed in a kid’s mind –they would think it’s the end of the world… I understand some correction is better than none but I warn parents to brace for the backlash if they don’t ease into the changes. However, this is MORE easier and tolerable than trying to get a teenager to listen or act right. The main precaution is how a teenager/adult can and will do something violent to themselves or others when being corrected or challenged. Take baby steps.
• Listen/Pay Attention:  I stopped asking people do they listen because basically, they don’t.  You can tell when a person is just tuning out, but that just means the kid is not being raised with some emotional intelligence, mimicking poor behaviors, while people complain about the kid…so look at the general concerns (above) or where do most dysfunction come from whether with kids, families, relationships, etc.? It’s from a LACK of attention. A kid who doesn’t get rewarded (attention), will do bad things/attention-seeking behaviors because maybe mommy or whoever will finally pay attention. Prioritize the time to give attention (not with electronics/distractions) to the kid, so they won’t do worse things. You want the kid to listen to you, therefore you must listen to the kid. Here are additional parenting tips.

Help for Youth

(For boys/teens, resources are mainly addressed in general health so most of the information also applies to females):

Children and Adolescents 

• Calming Anxiety, Coping Skills for Kids: a therapist looks into different ways to address anxiety and anxious moments with the use of calming exercises for kids.
• What Is Anxiety, Anxiety Canada: leading website in developing online, self-help, and evidence-based resources on anxiety and anxiety disorders.
• Anxiety Relief, Psych Central: guide with activities for parents and professionals providing techniques to help children with managing their anxiety.
• Apps for Anxious Children, Anxiety: list of downloadable applications parents can use with tablets or cellphones for children dealing with anxiety.
• Depression Resource Center, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: a resource for parents and therapists on how to help adolescents with depression.
• Parenting Resource & Information, Healthy Place: guide for parents with children who have been diagnosed with a mental illness.
• Life With Bob, Healthy Place: blog exclusively for parents by a parent with a child who has bipolar disorder.
• Mental Illness Education for Kids, Susie Shep: video with small animated drawings explaining mental illness in a way that children can best understand.
• Children and Teens – Anxiety and Depression, Anxiety and Depression Association of America: guide to help educate parents, teenagers, and professionals about evidenced-based treatment options for anxiety in teenagers and children.
• National Eating Disorders, National Eating Disorders Association: an organization that supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures, and access to quality care.
• Mental Health Facts, Children and Teens, National Alliance on Mental Illness (PDF, 1.5 MB): infographic on the relevance of mental health concerns in children and teens.
• Mental Health: The Basics – Introduction:  video providing an introductory review of mental health.

Resources for Teens 

• Anxiety and Teens, WebMD: information for parents and professionals to help them understand anxiety in teenagers and adolescents and what interventions and support can be provided.
• Erika’s Lighthouse: a site that educates school communities about teen depression, eliminates the stigma associated with mental illness and empowers teens to take charge of their mental health.
• Youth – AnxietyBC, AnxietyCanada: a resource for teens who may be suffering from anxiety.
• 20 Confessions from Teens With Mental Illness, Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program: quoted experiences on mental health from teens, for teens.
• Living With a Mental Disorder, Buzzfeed News: a video that describes what it’s like to live with mental illness as a teenager.
• 10 Facts About Teens and Mental Health, Health Tricks: a video about mental health facts and teenagers.
• Teen Depression, National Institute of Mental Health: organization providing mental health education, resources, and clinical trial research for certain diagnoses.
• Helpline, Teen Line Online: peer support line resource for teens, by teens; available 6 p.m.–10 p.m. daily.

-Online Counseling Programs

Posts About Men

I do have some boy/girl differences on the Kid’s Page so I also did a poor job discussing males, hence this page. NIMH has a decent section about men’s mental health and check out additional resources below. Here are a few posts r/t to males and additional male topics will be placed in this area:

• What is Hikikomori?: here was one of my first posts I’ve ever done! so I at least tried. I also enjoy the Japanese culture and how you almost never hear anything negative about it, thus talking about Hikikomori was heartbreaking.
• Male Libido Dysfunction: this is mainly discussing how to deal with this as a side-effect. Older guys can cope and manage, but for my younger ones, the performance or lack of is an important consideration with treatment.

Mental Health Resources for Men

• Man Therapy: Uses humor to get men thinking and talking about their mental health. “A mustache is no place to hide your emotions.” – Dr. Rich Mahogany.
• Men’s Minds Matter: Dedicated to the prevention of male suicide by providing tips, information, and self-help strategies.

• Canadian Men’s Health Foundation: Offers guided health checks, advice, and information on a variety of men’s health topics, including prostate cancer, mental health, and sexual health.
• Harvard Health Publishing: Includes a collection of blogs, articles, and publications, concerning various men’s health-related topics.
• Men’s Health Forum: Aims to ensure all men, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, have access to the resources, treatment options, and services necessary for them to live happy, healthy lives.
• The Men’s Health Research Program: A program at the University of British Columbia that researches, educates, and spreads awareness of the influence of masculinities on men’s health.

• he.: Focusing on men’s health (mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual), “He.” is designed to help men identify the biggest areas of pain and stress in their lives. Also provides an anonymous (if desired) platform for men to connect. Available on both the App Store and Google Play Store.
• Headgear: Guides users through a 30-day mental health challenge aimed at increasing overall well-being. Available on the App Store.

• Better Help: Provides counseling for individuals and couples. All therapists are licensed, English-speaking, and based in the US. They are also accredited and can help with trauma, depression, anxiety, relationships, grief, and more. Membership is required and billed monthly. Listings include psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social workers, and licensed counselors.
• Talkspace: Provides psychiatric consultations and counseling options for individuals and couples. After a brief assessment and disclosure of your preferences, you can begin online therapy. A subscription is required and the billing cycle is variable. Listings include psychiatrists, licensed counselors, relationship therapists, and more.
• TherapyTribe: An international therapist directory that will connect you with a therapist that’s right for you. Therapists are available in Canada, the US, and more. Listings include psychotherapists, licensed counselors, hypnotherapists, social workers, and more.

• Man’s Search for Meaning: A short yet powerful read, this is a memoir from psychiatrist Viktor Frankl about how he survived and overcame his experiences in Nazi concentration camps. Frankl discusses an approach to finding purpose in life – through his theory of logotherapy. –I usually recommend men to read this book 
• Reasons to Stay Alive: A memoir by Matt Haig sharing his experiences with depression and how he learned to manage his illness.
• Boy Meets Depression: A memoir by Kevin Breel, whose TEDX Talk on his experiences with depression has just under 7 million views. His book discusses the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, and how he was able to overcome his suicidal thoughts and accept the dark parts of himself while growing up.

–Headsup Guys

Additional Resources

1. Online mental health resources for men: Online mental health resources can provide a wide range of screening tools, tips to manage anxiety and depression, and lists of additional resources. These online resources include:

• HeadsUpGuys: tips and tools to help men manage depression, including a self-check depression screening tool
• Man Therapy: links to additional mental health resources, tips for dealing with stress, and answers to questions like, “Shouldn’t men keep their feelings to themselves?”
• Movember: more than encouraging men to grow mustaches in November, with information and services to support men’s mental health
• Mental Health America: links to screening tools for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addictions, among other mental health conditions
• Active Minds: an organization dedicated to promoting mental health conversations among young adults, with a list of resources supporting Black men’s mental health
• Brother, You’re On My Mind: a toolkit put together by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity to promote mental health for Black men

2. Mental health support groups for men: Men’s support groups offer the chance to connect with like-minded peers who get what you’re going through and won’t judge you. Regardless of the group or forum, you can decide how much you want to open up or if you just want to listen until you’re comfortable. These support groups include:

• Men’s Group: men’s discussion forums and online men’s groups that focus on topics like divorce, emotions, and being a parent
• Mental Health America: a variety of support groups and discussion forums on issues such as grief, depression, and suicide
• Face It Foundation: support groups, individual peer support, and other opportunities to connect in social settings
• Gaylesta: therapy groups in your area, all of which are dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community
• Clinicians of Color: a search tool for mental health groups in your area, among other resources

3. Therapists who specialize in men’s mental health: If you decide to speak to a mental health professional, you can look for one trained in men’s issues. Here are a few resources that may help you find a therapist:

• The Men’s List: an online directory of mental health professionals that you can use to find a therapist in your area.
• Black Men Heal: like Therapy for Black Men, an organization that connects men of color with therapists, life coaches, and other sources of support.
• Melanin & Mental Health: a directory of therapists with search filters for men’s issues, race and ethnicity, and mental health issues
• InnoPsych: a searchable directory of therapists of color who specialize in men’s mental health.
• QPoC Therapist Directory: a resource that allows you to search for LGBTQIA+ and allied therapists of color

4. Mental health crisis resources Help is just a phone call or text away if you’re dealing with a mental health crisis. Contact one of the resources below to speak with a trained counselor or get a referral for help in your area:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 1-888-628-9454 for En Español if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts.
• Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741-741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: Call 1-800-622-4357 for referrals to treatment centers, support groups, and community mental health agencies.
• “Navigating a Mental Health Crisis” guide: Download the free guide put together by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

–Good Rx