The BlakOut Bunker Times is our monthly periodical where we broadcast all editorial updates regarding BlakOut Bunker press and media-related posts on men's mental health. Our debut blog post is a deep dive into the world of men's mental health, raising awareness of the adverse effects and the role that men's mental health plays in the "Silent Crisis".
The Silent Crisis: An Epidemic of Masculine Silence
We begin on the front lines of society's war within the trenches: a battle against the rising rates of anxiety, depression, addiction and suicide. They say that stats don't lie. If this is true, we are fighting a losing battle, as men account for up to 80% of the suicide rates globally. That means we're surrounded by the enemy in every corner of the world, attacking our communities at 4 times the suicide rate of women, which is alarming on so many levels. Suicide is the leading cause of death amongst young men these days, and studies show that 67% of men never sought professional help for their mental health struggles.
Federal health reports show a surging increase in mood and anxiety disorders amongst young men and adolescents over the last decade or so. It's great to hear that it's being reported and documented. This is good, but also very bad: good that the conversations are happening, but bad as rising reports indicate that we're struggling more than we care to admit throughout our youth and communities. With substance abuse and addictions at the forefront of our mental health struggles, it has been noted that men are three times more likely to develop gambling problems socially. Knowing our limits and playing within them is more important now than ever, as the world of gambling has grown in its exposure over recent years. From gambling to substance use disorders, one in three men will experience and face a substance abuse challenge during the course of their lifetime. This often leads to extreme guilt and social isolation as these challenges become worse and harder to deal with if help isn't provided early on. With so many social pressures compounding, navigating these issues has traditionally been debilitating for men, to say the least. These pressures range from traditional roles in the household to business partnerships under extreme stress with no outlets.
Traditionally, cultural expectations are that men should be strong, physically and mentally. Worldwide, men are taught at an early age not to discuss their feelings or to feel vulnerable, as it is often seen as a display of weakness in their character. "Just deal with it" or "No one cares" are often the verbal barriers that leave men and young adults struggling with the thought of reaching out and the what-ifs when they do. The male ego should never be so fragile, but instead stoic within its beliefs and restrained under emotional duress at all times, thus leaving the leaders of our households, organisations and corporate entities in turmoil with the crippling thoughts of the rising stigmas that come with reaching out for help with their mental health.
So, we pose the question: why aren't men reaching out for help in dealing with their mental health? The percentage of men who die by suicide is very high, between 60–80%. Many of those cases have no documented interactions or diagnosis on record. Are we failing the leaders of our households? As a society, do we lack the resources that will help our young men who are struggling? At what age should we start addressing men, young adults, adolescents and even children about mental health?
Those are all excellent questions, and we believe it starts with a conversation: creating the social environments to host these conversations and providing effective ammunition for these battles on the front lines and in the trenches. Let's talk about it. Share your stories with us. With hope and faith, we can see that there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Written by Carlisle Humphrey
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