Men's Issues and Men's Mental Health: An Introductory Primer

The book explores the social determinants of mens mental health and accompanying psychosocial interventions,moving beyond one-dimensional discussions of masculinity. It is essential reading for healthcare practitioners and social service providers, graduate and advanced undergraduate students, and the wider public.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 255 pages
Publication date: 17 November 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Traditionally, mens mental health woes have been attributed to male stubbornness and rigid notions of masculinity. However, there is growing recognition that mental health issues in men are socially determined by a range of factors including family, educational, occupational, and legal issues. These and a variety of other social issues have been collectively labelled mens issues and are being increasingly linked to negative mens mental health outcomes. This book gives an overview of mens mental health as well as related mens issues, adopting a public-health-inspired approach examining the research linking social exposures and mental health outcomes. The book is unique in that it synthesizes and explores mens issues, mens mental health, and social determinants in a holistic and integrated manner through assessment of the social scientific and psychiatric literature.

In this book, the author discusses the social determinants of mens mental health and accompanying psychosocial interventions, moving beyond one-dimensional discussions of masculinity. Among the topics covered are:

The Social Determinants of Male Suicide: Understanding the factors that contribute to male suicide rates and exploring effective interventions to prevent suicide among men.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Young Males: Examining the medicalization of boyhood and the impact of this diagnosis on young males mental health. Discussing the potential benefits and drawbacks of medicalizing boyhood and exploring alternative approaches to addressing mental health issues in young men.

Why Do Men Have Low Rates of Formal Mental Health Service Utilization? Analyzing the social and systemic barriers that prevent men from seeking mental health care, including stigma, discrimination, and lack of access to resources. Discussing strategies to promote mens mental health service utilization and address these barriers.

An Analysis of Social and Systemic Barriers to Care: Providing a comprehensive review of the social and systemic factors that contribute to mens mental health disparities, including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and gender. Discussing strategies to address these barriers and promote equity in mental health care.

Discussion of Promising Male-Friendly Practices: Exploring innovative approaches to mental health care that are tailored to the needs of men, such as male-specific counseling services, peer support groups, and workplace wellness programs. Discussing the evidence-base for these practices and their potential to improve mens mental health outcomes.

The Gender Gap in Education: Understanding the educational underachievement of young males and its relationship to adverse mental health outcomes. Discussing the factors that contribute to this gender gap, including societal expectations, cultural norms, and educational policies. Exploring strategies to promote educational equity and address the mental health needs of young males.

Employment, Unemployment, and Workplace Issues in Relation to Mens Mental Health: Examining the impact of employment, unemployment, and workplace issues on mens mental health. Discussing the factors that contribute to workplace stress and burnout among men, including long hours, job insecurity, and discrimination. Exploring strategies to promote workplace well-being and address mens mental health issues in the workplace.

Mens Issues and Mens Mental Health: An Introductory Primer: Providing a comprehensive introduction to mens issues and mens mental health. Discussing the historical and cultural context of mens issues, including the role of masculinity, gender norms, and social expectations. Exploring the relationship between mens issues and mens mental health, including the impact of social determinants on mens mental health outcomes.

This book is essential reading for healthcare practitioners and social service providers including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and community health professionals. By understanding the social determinants of mens mental health and accompanying psychosocial interventions, practitioners can better address the mental health needs of men and promote positive mental health outcomes for all individuals.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 155 x 232 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030863227
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021