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With the world facing a mental crisis accelerated by the rise in costs of living, it’s important to understand the difficulties of men and women facing mental issues and how they deal with them.
‘Women and mental health’ has been normalized, topics like women feeling depressed and mentally triggered are discussed openly around the globe but when it comes to men, the subject is still taboo. The consequences are deadlier for men, considering the rise of suicide crises in men under 45 and other mental issues circling around them that they can’t even talk about and ask for help.
Men are much more likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems and that’s a fact. So what can we do? We can start normalizing men’s mental health and the revolution has already started to grow. More and more celebrated men across the globe are discussing and sharing their stories and we have listed a few.
Yolo Akili
An award-winning writer, healing justice worker, and founder of BEAM (Black Emotional & Mental Health Collective), Yolo Akili works on healthcare accessibility and mental therapy for the black community.
In his recent Instagram post, he reposted how his work is acknowledged and applauded on social media by people like Viola Davis and the United States Surgeon General recently. He often explores subjects like how people can heal unresolved trauma & overcome mental health triggers at their own pace and everyone should respect that.
He believes that giving yourself space and permission to feel your complex emotions is equally important. He strongly advises to not confuse ‘Being enough’ with ‘Being in alignment’.
Colton Underwood
Colton Underwood is a former professional athlete and TV personality, who regularly discusses the relationship between faith & mental health and the importance of checking up on people you love.
He talks openly about his challenges with mental health & depression on Instagram and has also successfully documented his journey of self-acceptance. His Netflix documentary ‘Coming Out Colton’ inspired millions of his followers whom he calls his ‘pocket friends’.
Marcus Bridgewater
Marcus Bridgewater is a creator, educator, motivational speaker, and plant enthusiast. He creatively demonstrates that a positive, knowledgeable approach to nurturing plants can help you heal.
His mental health routine includes getting plenty of fresh air, maintaining a balanced diet, and journaling. His recent book “How to Grow: Nurture your garden, Nurture yourself” offers advises on coping with mental health.
Justin Baldoni
An American actor & filmmaker, Justin Baldoni, is best known for his role as Rafael Solano in ‘Jane the Virgin’ and for directing Five Feel Apart and Clouds. He hosts the podcast ‘Man Enough’ talking about the difficulties of being a man today, and how masculinity sometimes affects men’s mental health.
Steve Harvey
An American comedian, actor, TV/Radio personality, and author, Steve Harvey is popular for his observational humor, self-help advice, relationship advice, and uplifting episodes on ‘The Steve Harvey Show’. He believes, “Talking about mental health is something that is sadly still off-limits for a lot of people.”
His advice on his morning show circle around opening up to your partners and your loved ones because they are the ones who know you and your struggles.
Roman Kemp
Roman Kemp, a British radio host & television personality since 2014 finished in third place in the 19th series of ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Kemp’s documentary “Our Silent Emergency” focuses on mental health and suicide crisis affecting young men who can’t talk about it, and why they don’t ask for help.
Kemp has been a prominent figure in normalizing the conversation about men’s mental health and the need to start addressing the issue on a national scale. Check his latest conversation with the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Jesse Lingard
An English professional footballer, Jesse Lingard, who plays for Premier League Club Nottingham Forest and the England national team is popular for opening up about how sports enthusiasts struggle to live their lifelong dream at the cost of mental health.
He shared the story around the time he wanted some days off and got some backlash, his mother was suffering from depression and how things were pursued at the time, how there were people controlling his life forgetting that people have a voice and they can speak up for themselves.
Tyrone Mings
Another English footballer, Tyrone Mings who plays as a center-back for Premier League Club Aston Villa & the England national team opened up about how social media and online abuse play a huge role for players and affects their mental health.
Tyrone came up with a series of videos talking about his mental state, and how he felt he was in a really bad place and might want to leave. His videos moved his fans and encouraged them to open up about men’s mental health.
Steven Bartlett
Steven Cliff Bartlett is a British-Nigerian Entrepreneur and podcaster, also the co-founder of Thirdweb, Flight Story, and Flight Story Fund. He was the co-founder of Social Chain but later stepped down from the role in 2020.
Being the most influential figure in the industry, he stirred a wave when he spoke about “Mental health being the foundation for everything you have.”
Hugh Jackman
The Wolverine star & all-around entertainer, Hugh Jackman broke the silence on suffering from mental illness and depression during the filming of his movie “The Son”. Experiencing the vulnerability himself he decided to open up about his own struggles with grief and anxiety on sets to encourage conversations around men’s mental health.
Understanding the importance of normalizing conversations about the subject in our everyday lives, more prominent figures started speaking about their own fights with depression and mental health.
“I just felt an urgency to play the part, and I actually chased [writer/director Florian Zeller] down,” says Hugh Jackman of his powerful new film The Son. “We’re living in a time when there’s so much ignorance and frankly shame and embarrassment” about mental health, he adds. pic.twitter.com/IwohrRRmCJ
— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) January 10, 2023
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