Men’s Health Week – The Impeding Influence of the Internet

Written By Kitty Vavasour, Junior Account Executive

Despite efforts for change, stigma surrounding men and their health remains in our society. From a female perspective, I have noticed that the men in my life tend to brush off their health concerns, and avoid seeking help, which is putting them at significant risk of harm. It seems that phrases like ‘man up’, or ‘grow a pair’ have been engrained in the minds of some men; leading them to wrongly believe that being connected to your emotions is weak and unacceptable.

That said, the world and what’s socially acceptable is ever changing. We are moving in the right direction, but we need to continue to stamp out this dangerous narrative that men must be stoic and ignore their health concerns.

By using Men’s Health Week as a platform for open conversation about important topics such as mental health, we can encourage men to seek support and vocalise any anxiety surrounding their wellbeing without fear of being judged or being made to feel embarrassed. This year’s theme is ‘men’s health and the internet’, which is looking to explore the influence that technology and social media has on mental wellbeing.

According to a report by leading mental health charity Mind, over a third of men (37%) say social media has a negative impact on how they feel. Whilst the internet offers the opportunity to connect with others in a way that would not otherwise be possible, it also presents a number of challenges. The endless scrolling that is constantly available on social media platforms can often lead to comparison, erupting feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem. Every second of every day social media users face continual exposure to carefully crafted images of success, wealth, and exaggerated physical appearance. It’s no surprise that this creates unrealistic expectations, which can evoke feelings of failure when they cannot be met.

As well as promoting unattainable lifestyles, social media has been designed to be addictive. Every ‘like’, comment and follow received causes the brain to release small amounts of dopamine, which over time can cause it to completely rewire itself, leading someone to be addicted to the ‘high’ social media rewards them with.

When all these factors are put into perspective, it’s clear to see that the internet can have a significant impact on people’s overall mental health, but why is it so important to take this week to focus on men specifically?

According to a survey led by the Priory Group, 40% of men in the UK won't discuss their mental health with close friends, family, or a medical professional. Reasons include:

  • “I’m too embarrassed” (29%)

  • “There’s negative stigma around this type of thing” (20%)

  • “I don’t want to admit I need support” (17%)

  • “I don’t want to appear weak” (16%)

It is vital that we learn how to communicate to men that their overall wellbeing is far more important than their anxieties over how others may perceive them, and any societal expectations that have been engrained into them. According to data from the Office of National Statistics, in 2021 the male suicide rate was 15 per 100,000. Men are suffering in silence, and we need to encourage them to speak up before it is too late.  

As communications professionals, we can use specially crafted social and digital strategies to spread positive messages about men’s mental health and raise awareness of these issues to remind those struggling that they are not alone. Using paid content, we can disrupt men in their social feeds who are endlessly scrolling, and when we think about our campaign content, be mindful of using visuals that depict the ‘average’ man or promote positive self-esteem. We can utilise and use the internet to our advantage, offering different platforms as safe spaces for men to discuss and validate their feelings, and direct them towards getting the support they need. Communication is key for signposting to support groups and, after all, a problem shared is a problem halved.

For more information on Men’s Health Week 2023 click here.

Mental health support services:

Kitty Vavasour, Junior Account Executive
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