BOYS’ & MEN’S ISSUES
Boys and men experience gender-specific norms and expectations that shape their lives.
Gender norms and expectations come from our families, cultural backgrounds (like our ethnicity or religion), and society at large. When boys and men do not conform to commonly held gender norms/expectations they may experience distress that contributes to mental health issues.
Some example norms and expectations for boys and men include:
- How they should act (such as bold and assertive rather than being nurturing and kind)
- What their role is in the home (such as taking care of finances, doing yard work, and fixing things rather than being responsible for caregiving, cooking, and cleaning)
- What occupations should be chosen (such as being an engineer or pilot rather than nursing and teaching)
- How they should look (such as masculine and heavy rather than feminine and thin)
Boys and men have unique struggles.
Boys and men have unique struggles related to their bodies, their relationships with self and others, their careers, and their identities.
Some areas that impact boys and men across the lifespan include…
- Anger and irritability
- Aggression and violent behavior
- Emotional numbing
- High suicide rate
- Substance use and addiction issues
- Sex and intimacy issues
- Sexual orientation and gender identity issues
- Challenges related to fatherhood
- Navigation between work, family, and self-care
- Traumatic experiences and PTSD
- Changes related to aging
Boys and men experience mental distress differently.
Boys and men can experience mental health issues at different rates from girls and women, and can experience symptoms differently, depending on the issue. More so, there are differences between boys and men because of the uniqueness of each person. For example, the suicide rate for men is four times higher compared to women, and each man experiences this issue differently depending on their situation, level of support, and coping skills.
Counseling and therapy at Wellness Grove…
Our in-person (outpatient) counseling services are offered in Canton OH (near Akron, North Canton, and Massillon). We also offer telemental health sessions to all Ohio residents.
Wellness Grove
