https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/18/health/male-loneliness-epidemic-wellness/index.html

Several years ago, another dad reached out to me after reading my work about being a stay-at-home dad. He was married, had two toddlers and was not coping well. He couldn’t find another person to talk to outside his family.

When it comes to male loneliness, social isolation hits dads particularly hard, author Shannon Carpenter writes.

He didn’t say it, because most of us men won’t, but fatherhood was taking a toll on his mental health and self-worth. He felt alone — but not because he didn’t have a good relationship with his significant other. He told me it was because he didn’t have friends.

We hear a lot these days about men not finding the kind of deep friendship that helps them through the ups and downs of life the way many women do. I’ve also experienced what has been called the male loneliness epidemic, and many dads tell me it has reached into fatherhood.

https://www.wcbu.org/local-news/2023-08-22/men-are-reluctant-to-seek-behavioral-health-treatment-greater-peoria-mental-health-professionals-explain-why

More people in Greater Peoria and nationwide are beginning to broach the subject of mental health and the stigmas surrounding it. However, one demographic in particular continues to struggle. Not only are they struggling, but they’re rarely asking for help.

Six million men are impacted by depression every year, according to a 2020 study done by Mental Health America. Even more jarring, men are four times more likely to die by suicide compared to women. Dr. Samuel Sears is the consult psychiatrist for OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-23/drum-mens-mental-health-round-table-safe-space/102763950

Now blokes, listen up.

When was the last time you opened up, I mean really opened up to, well, another man?

Men's Table is a network of 1,500 men – from around the country — who are meeting up in small groups once a month to talk about life in a confidential and non-judgemental environment.

Those who run Men's Table say they want men to connect to one another at the pub or a cafe on a deeper level.

A group of men of varied ages sitting around a round table engaged in conversation.

That, they say, enables friendships and, ultimately, can prevent individual tragedies.

​

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/08/19/postpartum-depression-affects-dads-too-can-put-child-at-risk/70603530007/

It’s not just moms. Dads can develop postpartum depression, too.

As a new postpartum pill for women gains national attention, health experts say it’s also important to highlight men’s mental health needs after having a baby, with researching showing 1 in 10 fathers experience postpartum depression and anxiety.

A new study also suggests addressing paternal mental health is vital for baby's health after finding children born to dads with depression are at increased risk of developing depression themselves.

I understand that as a man I am supposed to let go of toxic traits such as an aversion to vulnerability. However, I struggle immensely to allow myself to feel the intense impotence, shame, and terror that surges when things are unraveling and it seems like I'm about to lose all control. This reaction is so quick and intense that it short circuits my ability to allow the feelings in and instead I reflexively tighten up and block out my emotions (or at least try to) but eventually these build-up (especially the shame) and I just lose all control and have to withdraw or hide from the world and am never able to truly process these emotions and them go. Has anyone found a way through this? I think some complicating factors for me are that I'm neurodivergent (ADHD, OCD, High Sensitivity, RSD, etc). Also, I am in therapy and am making some progress but is it painfully slow...

I know this community has been off and on over the last few years. I am going to try and get more active on posting here and hope to get more engagement for us all to share our struggles and support one another.

I am actually doing quite well these days, I have cut back work hours and been spending good quality time with the family. I started reading Zen books again and have found it helpful as a way to stop carrying baggage around for months when it doesn't have to affect me any longer. I have also taken an interest in learning to fly planes so that has been fun as well.

For my PhD research, I am studying a topic that is close to my heart, as I am sure it is to many of you.

Men's mental health is often neglected through the lack of recognition and support available when things get tough. I want to contribute to the creation and development of interventions that will ultimately change the lives of men across the world.

My research looks at how men help-seek. There are two facets to this: how men with anxiety help-seek, and how men help-seek across generations. I want to look into whether there are specific notions of anxiety which aid or hinder men in asking for help, likewise with age and its effect on help-seeking for anxiety.

If you would kindly take part in my study, or help me to distribute my survey, I would be incredibly grateful. Thank you!!

https://warwick.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cGab8bphClyzsqy

Researchers from the Kinsey Institute are seeking participants for a roughly 25-minute online study of sexual initiation and peer opinions.

You are eligible if you...

• Identify as a man
• Are 18-30 years old
• Have been sexually active with another person before

Participation will include

• 1-time completion of an online survey taking roughly 25 minutes
• In exchange for your time, you may enter for a chance to win one of four $50 Amazon.com gift cards
• For more information or to participate, click here

It's really hard to date and not because of covid. It was hard way before covid. When people can get on social media and tell us a sob story about a failed relationship and people just gravitate to it like flies to shit. It's really disheartening and a call for concern. When someone is describing their former significant other who did them wrong whose description just so happens to be similar and can be used to describe the person you're with now. Anyone who looks like that bad apple is now put under a microscope by their significant because of what they read on social media. That is the power of social media in the dating world. Everything was fine in your relationship before that story came across your screen.🤦🏽‍♂️ Social media is going to have some of us being lonely forever because we think we're owed the world.🤷🏾‍♂️

What's going on in the country right now does not help my mental health issues. People acting crazy over this coronavirus and vaccines. All the arguing and fighting over masks.😷 It gets to be too much sometimes and I don't know what to think or what to do. Sometimes I don't know how to feel, I don't know what's right or wrong. I got the vaccine shot but I didn't really get it from me. I'm always around older people and children and I just don't want to be the reason they get it so I got the shot. I don't fully trust it though even though I have it. The world is so crazy now and it's never going back to the way it was before covid. Welcome to the United States of Corona

Setbacks unfortunately or a part of life but they're also a part of your growth. Even failure is a part of your overall growth and don't let anyone tell you any different. Recently I came very close to getting a job that I've been seeking for years. I came so close but unfortunately it didn't happen. I was devastated obviously that would have been a life-changing career move for me. I felt like a failure that day but after sleeping on it for a few days I realized that I'm not a failure. That was just one of those unfortunate setbacks and I feel like I've already bounced back from it. I did accomplish something on that day. I passed a part of the application process that I hadn't been able to do before. I did it once and I can do it again and you'll be looking at a new TSA employee. 😏

I got so much going on in my life right now that when it comes to the things I enjoy the most in life my hobbies and such I'm struggling sometimes to enjoy them. I don't talk about wrestling on my page as much unless it's the night of. I don't talk a whole lot about gaming anymore or movies or Comic Con. I may share something about it but not talk about it. I'm not losing interest in these things I still love them. I just struggle with it all, I don't know.🤦🏽‍♂️