“Men may feel uncomfortable openly sharing their emotions, fear of how others may respond to them sharing their issues or concerns and/or worry that their mental health concerns may be dismissed or not taken seriously,” she said.
These thoughts that many men grapple with may ultimately prevent them from seeking the help they need.
“Research studies show that a rigid adherence to a traditional masculine role gets in the way,” said Farrer. “Men often feel they should be able to ‘tough it out’ and solve their problems on their own.”
“Men are often socialized to feel that openly sharing feelings and emotions is not as acceptable for a man as it is for a woman,” Mushlitz said. “This is often reinforced by others’ negative or dismissive responses to a man when he expresses his emotions. Over time, men may internalize a message that suggests keeping feelings and emotions to themselves. This often leads to thoughts, feelings and emotions building up or accumulating within the person until they eventually spill over.”
To better include men in the mental health conversation, Mushlitz said that it is important to normalize men’s experiences of mental health challenges.
Increasing educational opportunities in mental health care is a step toward addressing the social barriers men face when it comes to addressing mental health.
The Psy.D. degree will include education about the barriers different populations, including men, face when seeking treatment.
“Each time someone openly discusses their own journey, it shows others that it’s alright to get help when they need it,” Farrer said. “Talking openly about health stigmas, even in a classroom setting, helps to destigmatize men’s relationship with their mental health.”
The Psy.D. is part of the School of Health and Medical Professions (SHAMP) and will begin in Fall 2026.
SHAMP is designed to address the statewide healthcare crises and improve access to healthcare for all Idahoans.
2025-08-23 17:25:00