N.S. advocates offer advice amid men’s mental health month

When it comes to mental health struggles, men are less likely to seek help.

Ten years ago, Ahmad Jabbir was a promising psychology student.

He played sports, he had friends, but behind the scenes he was battling with mental health issues.

“I remember hitting a really low point, rock bottom, especially in my first year. Coming from an immigrant background and having a lot of pressure to do well in school, mixed with isolation of just university and what comes with it,” says Jabbir.

“When I first went to therapy, I don’t think I even told anybody that first six months, because there was so much resistance for me wanting to even just share with people that I am struggling with.”

He says stigmas around the topic are what kept him from getting help.

“I remember there was just so much dread and resistance like, ‘Oh no, I’m letting my parents down by going to therapy and this is so shameful.’ I almost wanted to keep it a secret,” says Jabbir.

One in five men report having moderately severe to severe depression or anxiety, according to a recent study by Greenshield.

“A very large number of young men, about 1 in 3, still see help seeking as a sign of weakness. And that worries me because if you see that as a sign of weakness, you’re not likely accessing care at times when you need it,” says Dr. Khush Amaria, Greenshield’s director of clinical services.

And for those that do reach out for support, 49 per cent report being disengaged from it before their needs are met.

“Often what happens is the stress with men gets turned into silence, or anger or substance abuse, withdrawal or even explosive type of a crisis,” says clinical psychologist, Simon Sherry.

The study also found 64 per cent of young men turn to family and friends for help compared to 54 per cent of racialized men.

Meaning local initiatives work overtime to offer men a safe space.

“A lot of our men walk with that baggage of being hurt, being scared, having those trust issues, those abandonment issues, and you just want to be present and give them that capacity to know that, ‘Hey, I will show up for you. but first and foremost, I have to get you to trust me,” says Preston Trench, team lead for the Nova Scotia Brotherhood.

Nowadays, Jabbir works as a mental fitness speaker, encouraging others to let go of those stigmas and lean on support.

“It’s hard to even feel loved if you’re hiding so many aspects of ourselves, if we’re wearing a mask. and the more that we’re able to just open up and share with people what’s going on internally, it can help us feel more connected to the world and to others in different ways,” he says.

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