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According to research, conforming to male gender stereotypes prevent many men from seeking professional help with mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 15 percent of men sought mental health treatment in 2020 compared to about 26 percent of women.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that men are less likely to need professional help. Nearly four out of five suicides are reported among men, and the highest rates are among those who work in traditionally blue-collar, male-dominated fields such as construction, agriculture, and mining. Men are also significantly more likely to die from alcohol- or drug-related causes.
Societal views of masculinity, combined with jobs that may increase the likelihood of exposure to trauma, make men particularly vulnerable when it comes to complications from conditions such as PTSD. Understanding the causes of PTSD stigma in men, obstacles to mental health care that are unique to men, and how to break down gender stereotypes can make important mental health care more accessible.
What Is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that results from witnessing or experiencing a traumatic experience. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about half of all adults experience at least one traumatic event during their lifetime, such as a violent assault, a natural or human-caused disaster, combat or a vehicle accident. The majority of people don’t develop PTSD, but about six percent of the population will be diagnosed with this disorder at some point during their lives, including about four percent of men.
Symptoms of PTSD
- Reliving the event through flashbacks, nightmares or hallucinations
- Increased alertness or exaggerated startle response
- Angry outbursts or irritability
- Avoiding places, people, events or memories tied to the trauma
- Problems with concentration
- Reckless or risk-taking behaviors
- Hypervigilance, or constantly being on the look-out for threats
- Feelings of guilt, shame or hopelessness
- Chronic pain
- Memory loss related to the trauma
- Feelings of detachment
When these symptoms last between three days to one month after a traumatic event, the condition is typically referred to as acute stress disorder. However, if they last for more than a month, the individual may be diagnosed with PTSD. ASD often comes before PTSD, but not always. An individual may not experience PTSD symptoms until several months or even years have passed.
What Causes PTSD in Men?
While men and women are both vulnerable to traumas, there are some types of trauma that men are more likely to experience. About 84 percent of active military personnel are male, and among living veterans, 35 percent are males compared to 15 percent females. According to the Veterans’ Administration, veterans that were deployed to war zones are more likely to experience PTSD than those who weren’t. Men are more likely than women to experience traumas related to motor accidents and natural and human-made disasters, and they’re also more likely to work in high-risk jobs such as law enforcement, photojournalism, war correspondence, first response, and law enforcement. These can all take a significant emotional toll that often goes unaddressed.
Why Don’t More Men Seek Treatment for PTSD?
While every individual has their own unique factors that may make it difficult for them to seek treatment for PTSD, many men have gender-related obstacles to care. First, men who identify with cultural masculine norms may not even consider themselves to be mentally unwell. There’s often an emotional disconnect, which can make it difficult to see how past experiences and suppressed feelings can impact today’s behaviors and struggles. Messages related to seeking help for depression, anxiety, or trauma-related disorders may not resonate with them, because they don’t recognize their need for treatment. Rather than considering their mental health, they may be more likely to point the finger at external factors, such as job stress, financial concerns, worry over their children’s futures, and interpersonal conflicts, as the source of their problems.
Another factor that prevents more men from seeking treatment for PTSD is that many have been conditioned to be the emotionally strong ones; the ones that other people can lean on during times of stress. While women may be more likely to find support when they make the decision to obtain therapy, many men may be less likely to get positive feedback from others when they pursue mental health. This may be particularly true in certain job cultures where the expectation is to display fortitude and stoicism in the face of adversity. Military training, for example, emphasizes the importance of suppressing emotions and being self-reliant in even the harshest circumstances.
Traumatic experiences often bring on feelings of powerlessness, which is in direct opposition to what society expects of men. For someone who takes pride in being self-reliant and in control of themselves and the situations they find themselves in, recognizing the need for treatment can be difficult.
Male Stereotypes and PTSD Treatment
Even when men do seek treatment, tendencies toward suppressing emotions and remaining stoic can make therapy challenging. The most commonly used evidence-based therapies incorporate in-depth explorations of emotions and behaviors related to traumatic experiences. Engaging in that way may feel uncomfortable for someone who’s conditioned to disconnect from emotional responses to trauma.
In some cases, acknowledging emotional responses to situations in which their lives were in danger or they witnessed others experience atrocities can feel like a personal failure. This can bring an element of shame and embarrassment into therapy and be counterproductive to their goals.
Addressing Stereotypes and Improving Access to PTSD Treatment
While cultural norms and expectations can be significant barriers to PTSD treatment, gender-sensitive services can make mental health care more accessible to men. In keeping with recent guidelines from the American Psychological Association, many mental health care providers are looking for ways to adapt therapy to the ways men have been conditioned to think and behave.
For example, some therapists incorporate discussions of how certain aspects of a man’s identity may be expressed or suppressed, depending on a given environment or situation. This may provide men the space and freedom they need to explore their emotions in therapy without worrying that this introspection will affect their work performance. Other programs provide mental health services in workplaces. Not only does this make help more accessible to men, but it can contribute to an environment that’s more supportive of mental health.
Ultimately, it’s important for outdated male stereotypes and cultural expectations to shift. Emotion is a key element of the human experience for men and women alike. Suppressing and disconnecting from emotions after a traumatic event doesn’t spare the individual the pain of PTSD but can prolong symptoms.
Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes in Mental Health
Traditional male stereotypes that demand stoicism, emotional detachment in the face of adversity, and unwavering strength can make it difficult for many men to get the help they need after experiencing a traumatic event. Confronting these stereotypes and recognizing the subtle biases and beliefs about masculinity held by society as a whole, the man himself and those closest to him is critical for making mental health care accessible. Gender-informed therapy can help tackle common mental health stereotypes for men and provide support and care for those living with PTSD.
