MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH MONTH
Each June, as the world recognizes Men’s Mental Health Month, we are urged to look beyond the surface of stoicism and strength often associated with masculinity. This year’s theme, “Closing the Empathy Gap,” strikes at the heart of what continues to be a silent crisis: the emotional isolation of men. As a mental health researcher and advocate, I believe this theme is both timely and vital. It pushes us to confront the emotional chasm that has long existed between men’s inner experiences and the understanding (or lack thereof) that society extends to them.
The Empathy Gap Defined
The empathy gap, in the context of men’s mental health, refers to a collective shortfall in emotional understanding, expression, and support offered to men struggling with mental health issues. It is not just a psychological distance; it is a cultural, social, and systemic divide that perpetuates the myth that men are less emotional, or that they ought to be. This gap manifests in everyday interactions, in public discourse, and even in healthcare systems.
According to WHO and other global studies, men are significantly less likely to seek mental health support than women, yet more likely to die by suicide. These troubling statistics don’t emerge in a vacuum; they are products of years of emotional suppression, toxic masculinity, and limited access to empathetic spaces.
A Historical and Cultural Perspective
In many cultures, especially in patriarchal societies like India, boys are taught early on to “man up” or “stop crying like a girl.” Emotional expression, particularly vulnerability, is seen as weakness. This social conditioning doesn’t just silence feelings—it stunts emotional growth and interpersonal communication skills, making it harder for men to seek help when they need it most.
This cultural backdrop forms the foundation of the empathy gap. While we have made considerable strides in promoting mental health awareness, much of the discourse still centers around women’s and children’s emotional well-being, leaving men’s struggles in the shadows. This imbalance must be addressed not by devaluing one group’s needs, but by ensuring inclusivity and understanding across gender lines.
The Intersection of Masculinity and Mental Health
The traditional definition of masculinity emphasizes strength, independence, dominance, and emotional restraint. While these traits are not inherently negative, they can become detrimental when they inhibit a man’s ability to acknowledge or process his mental health challenges. This internalized stoicism makes men reluctant to discuss anxiety, depression, burnout, or grief.
Empathy—both self-directed and received—plays a crucial role in healing. But to receive empathy, men must first feel it is permissible to show vulnerability. The empathy gap, therefore, is also a permission gap. Who gives men permission to be soft, uncertain, emotional, or afraid? In many cases, no one does—and that is precisely where we need to intervene.
Barriers to Empathy
There are several barriers that prevent the empathy gap from closing, and they operate at different levels:
- Social norms: Gender roles remain rigid in many cultures, with men expected to be providers, protectors, and emotionally contained.
- Media representation: Male characters in films and television are still frequently portrayed as emotionally stoic or aggressive.
- Lack of emotional literacy: Many men have never been taught the vocabulary of feelings. They know anger and perhaps joy—but not loneliness, shame, or grief.
- Limited safe spaces: Few mental health initiatives or support groups are designed specifically for men.
- Healthcare biases: Medical professionals may unconsciously minimize or misinterpret men’s psychological symptoms.
Together, these factors create a perfect storm where men feel invisible in their suffering—and society remains unaware or unwilling to engage.
Bridging the Gap: A Multi-Pronged Approach
So, how do we close this empathy gap?
Normalize Emotional Conversations
We must begin in our homes and schools. Teaching boys that emotions are not gendered and that it is healthy to cry, to share, and to seek help can radically reshape future generations’ mental well-being. Parents and educators should actively encourage boys to express a range of emotions without ridicule.
Redefine Masculinity
There is an urgent need to craft a new narrative of masculinity—one that celebrates emotional resilience, self-awareness, and compassion as strengths rather than weaknesses. Public figures, influencers, and male mental health advocates can lead this change by openly sharing their struggles and emphasizing emotional intelligence.
Inclusive Mental Health Services
Therapy and counseling must become more male-friendly in terms of language, settings, and outreach. In India and globally, mental health campaigns should include visuals and messages that feature men of different backgrounds, ages, and orientations, showing that mental health support is for everyone.
Additionally, we need more male therapists and more group therapy spaces that cater specifically to men. When men see themselves represented, they are more likely to engage.
Train Professionals in Empathy
Mental health practitioners, doctors, and educators should be trained to recognize signs of mental distress in men, even when those signs do not follow conventional patterns. For example, depression in men often shows up as irritability, substance abuse, or overwork rather than sadness or tearfulness.
Practicing active listening, creating non-judgmental environments, and using gender-sensitive language are essential in building trust with male clients or patients.
Leverage Media Responsibly
Films, web series, and advertisements can either reinforce harmful stereotypes or dismantle them. We need more nuanced portrayals of male characters—fathers, sons, brothers, lovers—who are allowed to feel, falter, and grow emotionally. Media has a powerful role to play in shaping societal perceptions.
The Role of Peers and Partners
Often, the first point of emotional contact for men is not a therapist, but a friend, sibling, or romantic partner. This places a significant responsibility on those around men to show empathy and create emotionally safe spaces. However, it is important to avoid burdening women or partners with the sole responsibility of men’s emotional education.
Instead, we must foster peer-based interventions—such as men’s support groups, online forums, or workplace mental health initiatives—that enable men to support each other. Peer validation can be a strong motivator for emotional openness.
A Gender-Equitable Approach to Empathy
Closing the empathy gap doesn’t mean prioritizing men over women or vice versa. It means recognizing that emotional suffering does not discriminate by gender, and support shouldn’t either. Empathy is a shared human need. When we limit it by gender norms, everyone loses.
As we advocate for women’s rights and mental health, we must also bring men into the conversation—not as perpetrators of patriarchy alone, but as its victims too. By teaching empathy in a gender-inclusive way, we move closer to a society where emotional well-being is universal.
Stories of Change
Around the world, there are signs of hope. From male athletes openly discussing mental health to fathers attending therapy to heal generational trauma, the tides are slowly turning. In India, mental health platforms are beginning to address male-specific issues—fatherhood, career pressure, sexual trauma, loneliness—with greater nuance.
Community-driven initiatives such as men’s talking circles, workplace wellness programs, and anonymous helplines are gradually expanding the space for empathetic conversations among men. But more needs to be done to ensure these efforts reach rural, underprivileged, and marginalized male populations.
Conclusion: The Empathy Imperative
This Men’s Mental Health Month, let us commit to a collective reevaluation of how we relate to men’s emotional lives. The empathy gap is not an abstract concept—it is felt in every silenced tear, every delayed therapy session, and every unspoken plea for help.
To close this gap is not to pity men, but to empower them. It is to say: We see you, we hear you, and we are here for you. As a mental health researcher and advocate, I believe that empathy is not merely an emotion—it is a strategy. One that can heal, connect, and liberate.
We owe it to our all men around us —not just to help them survive, but to help them truly feel alive.
If you or anyone is in mental distress, please reach out to:
iCall –Helpline Number: +91 9152987821
Languages: English, Hindi, and regional languages
Vandrevala Foundation Mental Health Helpline
Helpline Number: 1860 2662 345 or 1800 2333 330
(The Author is Co-founder Bharat Dialogues and National President, WICCI Media Council. Feedback: [email protected])
