At Influence Digital, we have worked with several clients focused on mental health. This has helped us gain a thorough understanding of the mental health landscape.
We decided to dig deeper into the mental health of men. Men and women have different struggles with mental illness. In the UK, the male suicide rate is almost three times higher than that of women. And men are also less likely to open up or seek therapy.
We surveyed 100 males in the UK to better understand their mental health concerns and barriers to support.
Stigma creates silence who responded to our survey are concerned that their peers and society will look down on them for speaking up about mental health. One-quarter of respondents (25%) would feel more inclined to open up about their mental health if society encouraged them. A third (33%) of respondents said they feared appearing weak, and 32% expressed concern about judgment.
Can men be held back by not knowing what to say
Almost half (46%) of our respondents cited the difficulty in expressing their emotions as a major obstacle to opening up. Men are also less emotionally literate and have more difficulty recognizing their feelings and emotions. This is according to our desk research. Men are more likely than women to seek medical attention for a physical illness caused by mental distress.
A simple, sincere question can encourage an open-minded attitude. One-quarter of respondents (25%) stated they would feel more comfortable sharing their emotions and feelings if a friend asked them how they were.
Pushing for Long-Form Education Content
The respondents prefer to learn about mental health through podcasts, how-to articles, and news articles. The popularity of short-form content such as Reels and TipsToks was much lower. This indicates that respondents are more likely to absorb information when presented in a longer format.
Statistics are a powerful tool for messaging
“70% have experienced mental health problems- you aren’t alone” performed the best of 20 message lines that respondents could choose from in our survey. Ads with lines containing numbers and statistics scored much higher than ads without. Men are more likely to respond positively to accurate data than an optimistic copy.
Recommendations based on our Findings
The results of this study show that men are most likely unable to express their emotions because of societal stigma, lack of emotional literacy, and fear of judgment. We can compare our research to existing research and see that the conclusions are similar in more Western countries.
It’s essential to provide men with content they enjoy, whether podcasts, news articles, or statistics used in messages. Statistical information can also make people aware they are not alone in their struggles. This can make you feel less alone and more open to receiving support.
Societal changes and initiatives can improve men’s mental illness.
Campaigns and public awareness must touch on various cultural and social touchpoints to be effective. When a loud enough voice speaks up, a movement is born; when the message is heard by others and inspired to affirmative action, alterations are made. , so those who hold positions of power in social or cultural matters are held accountable.
Are they launching a mental-health campaign for men? These insights will help you to develop a strategy that has maximum impact.