Men Urged to Speak Out as Mental Health Crisis Deepens: Experts Call for Action to Break Stigma Around Men’s Well-Being. Women Encouraged to Support Men Seeking Mental Health Care.
As the world marks Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month this June, health experts are raising concern over the growing number of men silently battling mental health conditions. Specialists at Entebbe National Referral Hospital are calling for greater awareness, open conversations, and stronger community support to address the stigma that continues to prevent many men from seeking professional help.
June is globally recognized as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a period dedicated to highlighting the mental health challenges affecting men and encouraging them to seek support.
According to global estimates, more than 552 million men are living with mental health disorders. Despite the growing burden, less than 42 percent of men receive the professional mental health care they need, leaving many vulnerable to substance abuse, depression, and suicide.
Speaking to COU Family TV, a clinical psychologist at Entebbe National Referral Hospital, Mercy Awori Erina, highlighted some of the challenges that commonly affect men's mental well-being.
She noted that social expectations, family responsibilities, financial pressures, and emotional isolation often contribute to mental health struggles among men.
Awori observed that many men continue to suffer in silence because of societal beliefs that portray men as strong individuals who should not express vulnerability or seek help.
She emphasized the need to challenge such perceptions and create safe spaces where men can openly discuss their struggles without fear of judgment.
Meanwhile, Psychiatrist John Tumusiime from Entebbe National Referral Hospital said a number of factors continue to affect men’s mental health, including daily life pressures, unmanaged health conditions, work-related stress, and challenges within their social environments.
Tumusiime urged men not to suffer in silence but instead to seek professional help whenever they experience emotional or psychological distress.
He stressed that early intervention remains one of the most effective ways of preventing severe mental health complications.
Experts also called upon women to play a supportive role by encouraging men to seek help, listening to them, and standing with them through difficult moments.
They noted that strong family and community support systems are critical in promoting mental wellness and building resilient communities.
As conversations around mental health continue to gain momentum worldwide, experts say addressing stigma, promoting awareness, and encouraging help-seeking behavior among men will be critical in reducing the growing burden of mental health disorders and creating healthier families and communities.
