SILENT SUFFERING

Men all over are suffering in silence. They are suffering from broken relationships, societal pressures, and the stress of not telling anyone how they feel leads to depression.

By Bolling Smith

There is no doubt that men are tough. From childhood men are taught to develop a stiff upper lip and do not show any emotion if they are having a hard time. But men are struggling. They are struggling to remain relevant in a world that respects them less than ever before.

By now everyone has heard about the 7 million men that have exited the workforce. The reasons behind it remain unclear. But the theories are concerning. The idea of what a male is, has changed. It has changed for women, and it has changed for society. What used to seen a sign of strength has become the very reason that women claim to not be attracted to a man.

Social media influencer, Andrew Tate, discusses the fate of men, all the time. Masculinity is under attack and men are starting to feel the effects of it. The average man: those who work a 9 to 5 and make less than $80,000 a year, are now considered to be undesirable to over 80% of women.

Statistics show a high percentage of the women, swipe right on only 10% of the available men when viewing online dating apps. This is leaving a gaping hole for men who are not being seen as a viable candidate to date, consequently they are not dating or having sex.

This new trend is causing men to fall in depression and because they are unwilling to talk about it, they are starting to suffer in silence.

Statistics show that over 6 million men in the US suffer from de- pression yet male depression often goes undiagnosed. With suicide rates on the rise across the United States, it’s important to address the dangers of untreated depression as well as the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Statistically, men are less likely to get treatment for depression and it could be related to the toxic stigma surrounding depression. Men might feel like less of a man or even embarrassed to get help. Reports show men are more likely to report fatigue and loss of interest in hobbies rather than feelings of sadness or worthlessness.

Reporting anything to anyone might be seen as a sign of weakness. Therefore, men do not reach out to discuss their issues when they experience them. This leads to a form of depression that, if not treated, could lead to suicide or other of acting out.

Unlike a broken ankle, people suffering from mental illnesses like depression can appear perfectly happy on the outside. There’s no obvious cast or crutches. From Major Depression to Bipolar Depression, there are many kinds of depression that can even be associated with other undying mental illnesses. The good news is relief is possible through safe and effective first and second-line treatments.

Stephen 'tWitch' Boss is the latest example of someone who seemingly had it all but committed suicide. There were no signs that he was struggling with mental illness, but he was. And while there might have been a small circle of people that knew he was struggling, no one saw him committing suicide.

Responding To A Threat

Checking on a friend and having a conversation can be tough. If you decide to check in on a friend or loved one who might be depressed or suffering, and they mention that they are going to or might consider suicide, must be taken seriously.

“I had a friend from college call me and say that she was going to kill herself,” William said. “I didn’t know what to do so I called her brother to let him know that she said this.”

The right thing to do when told that someone might commit suicide is to call and act on the threat. You do not want to be responsible for someone committing suicide. Find a loved one, or someone who can act on the threat.