Masculinity and Mental Health: How a society built on patriarchy fails men as people of society
What can we do about it on a corporate level
Mental health has been a cultural conversation over the past few years and while as a society we have a long way to go but we have come significantly far from where we started, somehow conveniently leaving men out of the conversation.
And why is that? Patriarchy. So how come a system that was built by men and for men has been doing a disservice to the very demographic it caters to?
To shed light upon this, let’s dive a little deeper.
Patriarchy hurts men too. How?
Each gender in a patriarchal culture has a role to play and men are often perpetuated to be more
- masculine
- stoic
- independent
- put together
- strong
From a very young age, discouraging them from expressing vulnerability or seeking help for mental health issues.
Masculinity, in its traditional sense, acts as a barrier in the face of men’s emotional wellbeing and these outdated expectations are detrimental in a high-pressure work environment.
What can be done about it?
Acknowledging the Missing Voice in the Mental Health Conversation
The numbers are hard to look away from. Men are significantly less likely to seek help for mental health challenges, and the suicide rate among men is concerningly high. Behind these stats are real people – colleagues, friends, partners, fathers – grappling with stress, exhaustion, and loneliness but feeling unable to speak up.
Because vulnerability, for many men, still feels like a risk rather than a release.
Work-life balance beyond just a buzzword
Work-life balance isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a lifeline. It’s about protecting your peace, not just your calendar. And it matters more when you’re too used to pretending it doesn’t.
Self-care is Strength
There’s a quiet kind of strength in saying “I need help.” In taking a break before breaking down. In showing up honestly, even on the hard days. Men deserve to know that it’s okay to not be okay – and that reaching out is not a weakness, but an act of courage.
Beyond Work-life Balance
Work-life balance is often reduced to productivity hacks or work-from-home policies. But real balance is emotional – it’s about feeling seen, supported, and safe enough to slow down. For many men, this emotional space doesn’t exist. Whether it’s feeling guilty for needing a break, or brushing off burnout with an “I’m fine,” the pressure to constantly “hold it together” is quietly taking its toll.
Support Systems for Men at Work that Work
It’s time for workplaces to meet men where they are. That means going beyond generic wellness checklists and building thoughtful, inclusive mental health support:
- Confidential, stigma-free counselling
- Male mentorship circles that normalise real conversations
- Senior leaders opening up about their struggles with burnout, therapy, or self-doubt
Small steps like these can create ripples of change in how men relate to their mental health at work.
We’ve made space for many important voices in the work-life balance dialogue – now we must ensure men aren’t left behind. Because balance, by definition, requires all sides to be heard and held.
Mental health doesn’t wear a gender. It wears a human face. And every one of those faces deserves compassion.
