Why there needs to be greater awareness for men’s mental health
Barbara Binland is the pen name of a senior, Julie Grenness, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She is a poet, writer, and part-time English and Maths tutor, with over 40 years of experience. Her many books are available on Amazon and Kindle.
Men’s mental health – does it really exist for baby boomer men? Are men so bound by their own concept of masculinity and gender stereotyping? Men can be lovable, yes, but may appear to be emotionally dependent on a nurturer, who men wish would be like their mother. Such men can be flawed by their own relationship failures, any substance abuse, any racism, his perceived misogyny, and can rely on blaming women for male inadequacies.
A comic might say that it is a because “boys will be boys”, “they’re all as mad as snakes”, and “Eve always gets the blame!”. What is your opinion?
A typical character of an over-60 male might be described as only truly happy with: a Playboy magazine; gazing at his dipstick and carburettor; a winning bet on a horse race; and a team in the football finals! This is an example of a gender stereotype of a man’s mental health, especially in Australia. But are women of baby boomer age to be blamed?
Maybe women and men of our age were all conditioned to accept that women were ‘good girls’ if we nurtured men in the same way the men’s mothers had, as emotionally dependent. Can women really blame the men?
A reciprocal caring and emotionally nurturing relationship is an ideal in society, where we all do seek some sort of relationship, even introverts. Some people can be satisfied with good friendships, while others have to compromise in a search for ‘the one’.
So, can baby boomers seek their own need to change? Over-60 and male – does men’s mental health really exist? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.