{"id":2948,"date":"2025-04-28T09:53:30","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T08:53:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/?p=2948"},"modified":"2025-04-29T11:36:40","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T10:36:40","slug":"time-to-talk-how-nurses-can-acknowledge-and-respond-to-mens-mental-distress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/2025\/04\/28\/time-to-talk-how-nurses-can-acknowledge-and-respond-to-mens-mental-distress\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cTime to talk\u201d? How nurses can acknowledge and respond to men\u2019s mental distress"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW17829911 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW17829911 BCX8\">The EBN blog this week is by <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW17829911 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW17829911 BCX8\">Nathaniel Smith, (<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW17829911 BCX8\" href=\"mailto:n.smith3@hull.ac.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW17829911 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW17829911 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">n.smith3@hull.ac.uk<\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW17829911 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW17829911 BCX8\">)<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW17829911 BCX8\">Lecturer in Nursing, in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Hull<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW17829911 BCX8\">, UK.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW17829911 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/files\/2025\/04\/Nathaniel-Smith-UNI_8014-1_jw-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-2949\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/files\/2025\/04\/Nathaniel-Smith-UNI_8014-1_jw-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"131\" height=\"197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/files\/2025\/04\/Nathaniel-Smith-UNI_8014-1_jw-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/files\/2025\/04\/Nathaniel-Smith-UNI_8014-1_jw-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/files\/2025\/04\/Nathaniel-Smith-UNI_8014-1_jw-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/files\/2025\/04\/Nathaniel-Smith-UNI_8014-1_jw-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/files\/2025\/04\/Nathaniel-Smith-UNI_8014-1_jw-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/files\/2025\/04\/Nathaniel-Smith-UNI_8014-1_jw-640x960.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/files\/2025\/04\/Nathaniel-Smith-UNI_8014-1_jw-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 131px) 100vw, 131px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Men and mental distress:<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Men\u2019s presentation to healthcare services for their mental health is complex, and worthy of further attention. Mental health distress is a common experience, but it is acknowledged that men in distress can present differently to women<\/span><sup>1<\/sup><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Whilst women may communicate their distress through tearfulness or talking about feelings, men are less likely to express emotions overall<sup>2<\/sup><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Further, there are risky behaviours arising from men\u2019s mental health distress, such as where men\u2019s depression is related to alcohol use, increased working hours, and lower contacts with health services<sup>3<\/sup>. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Underpinning all of this, are strong social expectations around men\u2019s mental health and roles as partners and workers, leading many men to avoid showing their distress and seeking help. Given that three quarters of suicide deaths are in men, with rates increasing and highest rates being in the 45-64 years age group, men\u2019s mental health is a growing priority<sup>4<\/sup>. This means that nurses, who encounter men in many settings, need to be aware of how men may express their mental distress and access services in their practice area. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Men\u2019s mental distress and primary care:<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Primary care settings, such as GP surgeries, urgent care centres and walk in services, are the first point of call for most patients. This is relevant to men who are experiencing mental distress as they do not always verbalise this, nor seek help through these services. This is a challenge, because whilst National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE] guidelines for depression<sup>5<\/sup> are available to support primary care staff with clinical decision making, the guidance regarding general mental distress is more limited. This leaves a gap in knowledge around supporting men more generally. Some men can find it difficult to effectively communicate their mental distress, the limited or constrained time available in a typical primary care encounter may leave little time to empower men to effectively communicate their mental distress.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stigma and a lack of help-seeking:<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When men do present to primary care with mental distress, there is a perceived stigma around seeking support, and men displaying negative views of self rather than an expression of current emotional wellbeing is common. Fear of intimacy is one predictor of men\u2019s attitudes to help seeking<sup>6<\/sup>. There has been some improvement in the past 10 years, however men are still less likely than women to seek support for their mental wellbeing<span style=\"font-size: 12px\"><sup>7<\/sup><\/span>, meaning their presentation to services can be delayed or limited. Offering men alternatives such as Men\u2019s mental health support groups provide an opportunity for men to speak with other men about their difficulties.\u00a0 <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Providing the opportunity to talk and provide support:<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ensuring that men are providing with opportunities to talk to a health professional about their mental health is key. Men report finding it easier to speak about their anxieties with women, but some will also speak with other men when they perceive the environment as safe<sup>8<\/sup>. As such, there is an opportunity for all nurses to engage with men, regardless of gender.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ultimately, nurses work in and across a range of clinical settings and services and need to support the creation of an environment where men feel safe to talk more openly about their mental health.\u00a0 This must involve being aware of the hidden presentation of male distress and how men\u2019s role expectations hinder their help-seeking. Nurses should actively reduce stigma by encouraging open discussion, signposting to relevant services, and offering reassurance and validation of men\u2019s mental distress.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Acknowledgement<\/strong>: Thanks to Caroline Davenport, Lecturer in Nursing, University of Hull, for support in the preparing of this blog.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">References:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Patrick S, Robertson S. Mental health and wellbeing: focus on men\u2019s health. Br J Nurs. 2016;25(21):1163\u20139.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cai A, Lou Y, Long Q, Yuan J. The sex differences in regulating unpleasant emotion by expressive suppression: extraversion matters. Front Psychol. 2016;7:1011.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Von Zimmermann C, H\u00fcbner M, M\u00fchle C, et al. Masculine depression and its problem behaviors: use alcohol and drugs, work hard, and avoid psychiatry! Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2024;274:321\u201333.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Office for National Statistics. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Suicides in England and Wales: 2023 registrations [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 April 9]. Available from: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/peoplepopulationandcommunity\/birthsdeathsandmarriages\/deaths\/bulletins\/suicidesintheunitedkingdom\/2023\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Suicides in England and Wales &#8211; Office for National Statistics<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">National Institute Health and Care Excellence. Depression in adults: treatment and management NG222 [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 April 9]. Available from: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng222\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng222<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sullivan L, Camic PM, Brown JS. Masculinity, alexithymia, and fear of intimacy as predictors of UK men&#8217;s attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help. Br J Health Psychol. 2015;20(1):194\u2013211.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">U<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">K Parliament. Men\u2019s health. 2023.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:304}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gough B, Robertson S, Luck H. Engendered expressions of anxiety: men\u2019s emotional communications with women and other men. Front Sociol. 2021;6.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!--TrendMD v2.4.8--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The EBN blog this week is by Nathaniel Smith, (n.smith3@hull.ac.uk) Lecturer in Nursing, in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Hull, UK.\u00a0 Men and mental distress:\u00a0 Men\u2019s presentation to healthcare services for their mental health is complex, and worthy of further attention. Mental health distress is a common experience, but it is [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/2025\/04\/28\/time-to-talk-how-nurses-can-acknowledge-and-respond-to-mens-mental-distress\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":424,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3748],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mens-health"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u201cTime to talk\u201d? How nurses can acknowledge and respond to men\u2019s mental distress - Evidence-Based Nursing blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/ebn\/2025\/04\/28\/time-to-talk-how-nurses-can-acknowledge-and-respond-to-mens-mental-distress\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u201cTime to talk\u201d? 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