June is Men’s Mental Health Month—a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and start long-overdue conversations about what it really means for men to struggle with mental health.
One of the most important—and most overlooked—topics is the way depression and anxiety show up differently in men compared to women. These differences aren’t just about biology—they’re shaped by culture, expectations, and how men are taught to respond to emotional pain.
Understanding these patterns can help more men recognize what they’re experiencing, seek help sooner, and feel less alone in the process.
Depression Doesn’t Always Look Like Sadness
When people think of depression, they often imagine someone tearful, withdrawn, or visibly down. And while that’s certainly one way depression can appear, it’s not the only one.
In men, depression often presents as:
Irritability or anger
Restlessness or agitation
Emotional numbness
Risk-taking or reckless behavior
Substance use (alcohol, drugs, or overworking)
Physical symptoms (like back pain, headaches, or fatigue)
Disconnection from relationships
Rather than saying, “I feel sad,” many men with depression say, “I feel off,” “I’m tired all the time,” or “I get frustrated at everything.” It’s not always recognized as depression—by themselves or the people around them.
Anxiety in Men: Hiding in Plain Sight
Like depression, anxiety can also look different depending on gender.
While many people picture anxiety as visible worry or panic, men are more likely to show anxiety through:
Over-controlling or perfectionistic behavior
Difficulty relaxing or always staying busy
Irritability or “short fuse” reactions
Trouble sleeping or constant fatigue
Avoiding vulnerability or emotional conversations
In a culture that rewards stoicism and self-reliance in men, anxious thoughts and feelings often get pushed down—or channeled into productivity, physical symptoms, or distraction.
Unfortunately, that means anxiety in men can go unnoticed or untreated for years.
Why Men Often Don’t Get Diagnosed or Treated
Men are significantly less likely than women to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety—even though rates of mental health struggles are likely similar.
This gap is influenced by:
Stigma around mental health
Social norms that discourage emotional expression in men
Misunderstanding of symptoms (especially when they don’t match the “typical” picture of anxiety or depression)
Fear of seeming weak, dramatic, or incapable
Limited access to mental health support in some communities
The result? Many men suffer in silence, not recognizing that what they’re feeling is treatable—and that they’re not alone.
Men Deserve a Full Emotional Life
Mental health is a human experience—not a gendered one. But to reach more men with care and compassion, we have to meet them where they are. That means creating spaces where emotional honesty is safe, strength includes vulnerability, and seeking help is seen as an act of courage—not failure.
Therapy can help men:
Make sense of their emotional world
Develop healthy ways to manage anger, anxiety, or stress
Heal from unspoken trauma
Improve communication and connection in relationships
Learn how to care for themselves in real, sustainable ways
Whether it’s talk therapy, group support, mindfulness, or just beginning to name what they feel—every step matters.
This Men’s Mental Health Month, Let’s Normalize the Full Spectrum of Being Human
Men feel grief, fear, sadness, self-doubt, joy, hope, and love—just like anyone else.
The difference is that, for too long, they’ve been told to feel less, show less, and cope alone.
Let’s change that.
Let’s start more honest conversations.
Let’s help more men get the support they deserve.
If you’re someone who’s been struggling, quietly or loudly: you’re not broken, you’re not weak—and you’re not alone.
