Why Are Boys Facing More Mental Health Issues?

Source: The Daniel Calazans Foundation 

There is growing concern regarding boys and mental health issues. Below is a guest blog by the Daniel Calazans Foundation entitled “Why Are Boys Facing More Mental Health Issues?”

“Men and women are traditionally socialized to act, think, and emote differently based on gender...Dominant conceptions of masculinity depict and encourage boys and men to be assertive, competitive, and independent, which fits with work in the public sphere.” - Reviewing the Assumptions About Men’s Mental Health: An Exploration of the Gender Binary

“From an early age, boys are encouraged to bury their feelings and present a tough exterior. Experts say these social dynamics have long-term implications for their mental health. While there is no one cause, psychologists and educators point to increasing pressures to succeed in school and a growing reliance on technology that can leave kids feeling isolated and vulnerable.

According to experts, boys can struggle more than girls because they have fewer tools to cope with emotions and stressors and are less likely to get the help they need. Without the means to effectively process emotions, boys are more prone to lash out in unhealthy ways or alienate themselves. 

Many boys—though certainly not all—have trouble talking about emotions and feelings because social norms have encouraged them to conform to masculine ideals that emphasize values like stoicism, toughness, and competitiveness. Generosity and compassion, in contrast, are seen as feminine characteristics and therefore present a threat to their socially constructed identities.

“Social norms and societal pressures deprive boys of the self-awareness and emotional vocabulary to recognize and process their feelings. In turn, they’re less likely to seek help when they struggle.” - The Daniel Calazans Foundation  

These pressures, which begin when they are very young, deprive boys of the self-awareness and emotional vocabulary to recognize and process their feelings; they are, in turn, unlikely to seek help from an adult or peers when they struggle.

Despite the uptick in depression among teens generally, a recent study found that only one-third of boys ages 12–17 sought help for depression in 2021, compared with 45 percent of girls. Sometimes, even when boys have the emotional language and recognize the flaws in societal norms, they still conceal their emotions to fit in.

Source: Harvard Gazette

Experts say that when boys can’t express emotions in a healthy way, they may become depressed or act out with anger and violence. Data shows that boys are nearly twice as likely to get into physical fights as girls, for example. Often, rather than an exploration of the cause of the behavior, these outbursts result in punishment by schools and parents being biased and unfair, particularly for students of color and students with disabilities. Because boys tend to lack emotional vocabulary—or they don’t feel free to express their feelings—their behavior becomes their communication. So, when a boy acts out or is disrespectful, we have to target their behaviors and not assault their character.

While boys can be reluctant to talk to therapists without nudging, one way to grow their emotional muscles is through affinity support groups at school, which research shows can be an effective tool for mitigating the impacts of distress and trauma. There, boys can start discussing common interests and superficial issues, then progress to talking about the pressures of growing up as a boy.”

An afterschool program that focuses on the needs of boys and masculinity, is the Ever Forward Club in Oakland, California. Their website offers numerous resources on this topic.

To view our paper “Thinking About Masculinity and the Needs and Wants of Boys,” click here. To view our webinar “Serving the Needs of Boys in Afterschool,” click here.

MORE ABOUT...

The Daniel Calazans Foundation (DCF) is committed to raising awareness of the scientific evidence that substance abuse and mental health conditions are often tied together and that certain underlying medical conditions can mimic the symptoms of psychiatric illnesses. They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to build awareness of the interconnection between mental health, substance use disorders, and possible physical conditions associated with emotional dysregulation and substance abuse issues, primarily as it affects our young people.

Ever Forward Club is a support program where at-risk young men could gather over lunch in a mentor-led safe environment, process emotions, and sustain each other through their struggles. Their mission is to address the underlying causes of dropout rates, youth violence, and the growing achievement gap through mentoring and social emotional development.