{"id":213,"date":"2023-11-20T09:00:04","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T06:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/claritycounseling.co.ke\/?p=213"},"modified":"2023-11-20T09:00:04","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T06:00:04","slug":"expert-counselling-services-in-kenya-for-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pcbuilds.site\/sp\/expert-counselling-services-in-kenya-for-men\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health Awareness for Men in Kenya"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Mental Health Awareness for Men in Kenya<\/h1>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard the claims that women are more \u201cemotional\u201d or prone to mental health problems like depression and anxiety, while men are more stable and endure it well. But is this belief rooted in facts? Or is the reality far more complicated when it comes to gender and mental health? <\/span><\/p>\n

In reality, research shows clear differences in how certain mental health conditions manifest in men and women. However, most do not make outright conclusions about one gender suffering more than the other because of various factors that affect gender differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some key questions this article will address include: do men actually experience less mental illness overall than women? Or does stigma cause underreporting and undertreatment in men? How do social gender beliefs shape symptom expression and help-seeking behavior for men? Do men and women develop different conditions, or just experience similar illnesses differently? Let’s dive into the discussion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gender Differences in Mental Wellbeing<\/span><\/h4>\n

Many studies, including the one published by APA in the <\/span>Journal of Abnormal Psychology<\/span><\/a>, confirm that there are differences when it comes to mental well-being and illnesses. This study found that women who experience mental health issues are likely to internalize emotions, which results in extreme sadness, loneliness, and withdrawal. <\/span><\/p>\n

Conversely, men more often externalize emotions, leading to impulsive behavior, aggression, and non-compliant behavior. These findings explain why men suffer more from substance abuse and antisocial disorders while women experience anxiety and depression. <\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of suicide, numerous statistics have proved that men have a higher suicide death rate compared to women. For example, the second leading cause of death for males ages 15-29 globally is suicide\u2014with men dying by suicide at almost four times the rate of women across age groups.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another study recently published in the <\/span>Mental State of the World Report<\/span><\/a> found that there was a relative difference in mood, frame of mind, and mind-body connection between genders. For example, compared to men, women experienced more feelings of fear, anxiety, and pain, while men had more issues with feelings of empathy and addictions. From these and other statistics, it is not that men suffer less from mental health issues. It is that each gender processes various challenges differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Real-Life Scenarios in Interpretations of Gender Differences<\/span><\/h4>\n

As you reflect on your own life experiences, you may notice examples of these patterns. Perhaps you had a girlfriend who responded to difficulties by becoming withdrawn and isolating herself, while a boyfriend lashed out in anger when upset. Or maybe you observed how a wife coped with anxiety through obsessive worry while her husband drank away his stress.<\/span><\/p>\n

In your family or friends, you may be able to identify cases where women’s depression went undiagnosed and dismissed as normal emotionality. But a man’s alcoholism was recognized as a disease needing treatment. <\/span><\/p>\n

Think about times when a man was told to “man up” (or as it is said in Swahili, \u201cKaa Ngumu\u201d or “Mwanaume ni Kujikaza\u201d) and stop being weak if he opened up about feeling depressed. But a woman readily received support for similar feelings by being encouraged to “express herself.” These diverse reactions show that society needs more sensitization on understanding mental health issues between genders. <\/span><\/p>\n

Related: <\/span>Emotional Intelligence: Why It Matters And How You Can Cultivate It.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Contributing Factors to Gender Differences In Mental Health Issues<\/span><\/h4>\n

Gender differences in mental health issues are influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors. While it’s important to note that individual experiences vary, there are some general contributing factors that differentiate the sexes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Biological Factors<\/span><\/h4>\n