June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month: Signs, symptoms and what you can do to help

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY) — According to Mental Health America, 6 million males in the United States are affected by depression each year.

“This month is, I think important for men in general because there’s still that stigma to quote un quote “man up.” In society, I think that a lot of men are struggling with issues that they feel like they have to deal with on their own,” said Jason Black, Adult Residential and Community Treatment Services Program Director at Coastal Horizons.

More than four times as many men as women have died by suicide in the U.S. since 2010.  According to Novant Health Clinical Psychologist Kathleen Young, there are a variety of warning signs.

“So, if someone is maybe more irritable than usual or if they’re more withdrawn, those might be things to be looking for. Also, just changes in appetite and sleep.”

One of the best ways to help combat the issues of men’s mental health is having someone you can open up to.

“Relationships are huge, that’s the benefit in in of itself. If you have a relationship with somebody that you can recognize those symptoms or recognize that there is a problem, that is the first step,” said Black.

According to Young, while people have to want help themselves, its also important for all of us to be more understanding of the issue.

“I think that it requires a certain amount of vulnerability from a public perspective and so, I think the more that we can be open about talking about feelings, then that’s going to go a long way.”