Though approximately one in five men lives with mental illness, their mental health is often downplayed or overlooked. The National Alliance on Mental Illness puts it this way:
Just as the body needs care and attention, so does emotional and mental well-being. Yet, there is a silent crisis in men’s mental health — one that too often goes unnoticed or unspoken.
June, Men’s Mental Health Month, is the perfect time to notice and speak up about this issue for the sake of all of the men in our communities. Below are five key things to know about mental health in men.
Mental illness isn’t a sign of weakness.
Mental illnesses impact people of all walks of life, and dealing with a mental health condition isn’t an indication of weakness. A wealth of evidence, both from history and the current day, proves this to be true. Many men known for their fortitude and leadership, such as Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill, dealt with ongoing mental health challenges. And today, athletes including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Terry Bradshaw, Michael Phelps and Anthony Fuhrman, who was twice named the world’s strongest man, have all openly spoken about their mental health struggles.
Men are at greater risk for suicide.
Compared to women, men are four times as likely to die by suicide, says the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Male deaths represent 79% of suicides, amounting to roughly 100 men dying by suicide every day—over 36,000 each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicide is the second most common cause of death for men under the age of 45.
According to HeadsUpGuys, a nonprofit that offers resources for men’s mental health, mental illness is the most important risk factor for suicide. More than 90% of people who die by suicide struggle with their mental health and/or addiction.
Men are less likely to receive mental healthcare.
In spite of the greater risk they face, men are less likely to receive care for mental health challenges. In 2022, just 41.6% of males living with mental illness received treatment, compared with 56.9% for females, reports the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
In 2025, nearly 350,000 men took a mental health screening test through Mental Health America. Three in four of them scored at risk of having a mental health condition, but as a group they were less likely than women to have received any mental health treatment or support in the past.
This lack of treatment can have serious—and even life-threatening—consequences. HeadsUpGuys reports that in a meta-analysis of 20 studies across North America and Western Europe, fewer than one in five men had contact with mental health professionals in the year leading up to suicide, compared to over a third of women.
Stigma and myths prevent many men from receiving care.
In addition to the overarching stigma about mental illness and treatment, ideas about “real manhood” and seeking help stand as roadblocks that deter many men from getting help when they’re struggling. These myths, such as the notion that those who are strong don’t need treatment, discourage men from speaking up about their struggles and seeking care.
Amid the risks and misconceptions, accepting community is vital.
Though stigma and myths persist, having a community where mental illness is openly discussed and where treatment is accepted and encouraged can make a big difference in helping men pursue mental health stability. That’s why the support and connection men find at the Well Community is so vital.
Over two thirds of Well Community members are men, and here they can talk openly about their struggles among friends who care and know what it’s like to live with similar challenges. Staff and volunteers come alongside them through hearty meals, enriching activities and case management services, and they are encouraged to stick to their treatment plans. The stigma and myths about mental illness that are so prevalent in our society are absent once they enter the doors of the Well.
Your gift will help the Well Community continue to come alongside men dealing with serious mental illnesses, through offering support, resources and a welcoming place to belong. Donate now.