Negative and positive events can subsequently lead to depressive symptoms in men: Women are support system
Editor: OLUSEYI ELIZABETH ODUDIMU
On several occasions, I’ve spoken concerning women’s vulnerability to mental illness and this is basically because they are the family supportive vessels and research shows that the prevalence of mental illness is high in women while substance abuse is revealed as men’s coping strategy.
Either way, gender, and mental health issue are crucial topics in medical services and so many scholars and authors have written many articles to help men deal with their psychological challenges. Men are considered the most difficult gender that hardly accesses medical services and they fail to realize or accept the fact that mental disorders can cause unhappiness to their families, economic failure, and of course political instability because approximately 55% of 100% of politicians are men.
According to scientists, men have an ego, which is quite helpful for them to remain psychologically resilient and helps them resist impulses under stress. Unfortunately, that same ego may stop them from seeking professional help. Unfamiliar and fearful events can open door to a vast emotional landscape, which can gradually contribute to the development of mental illness in our men; in most cases, failed marriage or divorce, unemployment or loss of job, and loss of loved ones can also be contributing factors.
Many of us do not know that our men struggle with lots of commitment. I mean, they get troubled when they can’t meet expectations and pursuits. This causes frustration. They engage in substance abuse while some get troubled, cry alone, get stressed, and lose sleep, which usually ends in nervous battles and the development of mental illness. On the other hand, structured welfare is a fundamental intervention to decrease exposure to depressive symptoms, but the unequal distribution of Social amenities in Nigerian society makes life so challenging for men to perform their duties satisfactorily.
Research confirmed that it is very challenging for men to disclose their mental illness status or disclose their concerns. However, women can positively support them, encouraging dealings is a forward planner to good well-being. Other researchers observed that most of the men that committed suicide happened to be single men, apparently marital status is presumed to be a supportive network as women are the assenting element that encourages men to seek psychological help and also help them build positive emotions to overcome life threats.
Women let’s help our men control their perception and the way they respond to health care services. Men, please stop denying and devaluing your healthcare needs. This is the time to reshape your help-seeking behavior and embrace a new shift from hiding your emotions. Please begin to view your emotions differently, and stop expressing your emotions through social avoidance, aggression, or outburst of anger. The rightful way to express your feelings is by speaking out and make out time to seek help from a therapist who will provide you with a psycho-therapeutic treatment approach.
There is nothing stronger than a woman who never abandons her man in their period of pain!
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Happy International Women’s Day/ FROM SMIF TEAM
