“Men are advantaged in every aspect of our society, yet we have worse health outcomes for most of the things that will kill you. We tend not to prioritise men’s health, but it needs unique attention, and it has implications for the rest of the family. It means other members of the family, including women and children, also suffer.”

-Derek Griffith, director of Georgetown University’s Center for Men’s Health Equity in the Racial Justice Institute.⁴

Why do men have worse health outcomes? Some theorists argue pressure to appear “manly” and not show emotion can drive poor mental and physical health from a young age.²

But how does this translate to men’s mental health later in life? What you see on the surface may totally differ from what’s going on inside, as men try to mask both their emotions and health problems. So, let’s come back to ‘Daniel’. How can his employer begin to understand how to help him?

Researchers say some men who struggle to talk about their feelings might bottle up emotions, while others may lash out. A Swedish study found women suffering from poor mental health showed greater ability to articulate their emotions, and they tended to focus on feelings of guilt and shame. On the other hand, men were more likely to hold back from talking about their distress and more likely to show it in the form of aggression.⁵

Sometimes, though, these feelings are completely hidden. Men who seem to be doing ok on the outside may be very good at hiding how they’re really feeling when they’re at work. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need support, especially as ignoring their needs could bring problems further down the track.

An Australian study found both men and women masked negative emotions by distracting themselves from thinking about a problem. But men, in particular, described avoiding distress by taking part in numbing or escapist behaviour – such as drinking alcohol – leading to a ‘build-up’ that escalated later into aggression toward themselves and others.⁶

Here we see the potential link to the shocking statistic around men’s suicide rates we’ve already mentioned.

The Men’s Health Network in the United States highlights how some psychologists call anger the “male emotional funnel system,” suggesting that it’s one of the few emotions societies have permitted men to show openly.  As a result, men may convert other negative emotions – like fear, pain, loss, anxiety, or feeling vulnerable – into expressions of anger, hiding the underlying problem.

Many multinationals may have a ‘Daniel’ among their ranks right now who could use some professional help to work out what’s driving the anger. But do you have the resources in place to support the ‘Daniels’ in your workplace?

It’s a long list, isn’t it? It’s easy to see how most of the men in your workplace will face at least one of these problems during their life, and sometimes more than one at a time.

But the good news is that evidence increasingly suggests the taboo around men talking about their mental health may be starting to shift and they are more willing to reach out for help than they were in the past.

MAXIS’ claims data shows a significant spike in mental health claims across the world in recent years, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, while the pandemic might have caused a spike in mental health conditions, it might also have helped to break the taboo and encouraged more people to seek out the help they need.

But, with mental health claims on the rise globally and signs of a stressed workforce, is there still a gender split when it comes to seeking help?

Data from our global wellness partner ICAS World shows that significantly more women than men currently use its employee assistance programme (EAP) services. And while this gender gap may be smaller, companies might need to focus on communicating the support available specifically to the men in their organisation. 

We live in a changing world, and assumptions that men would rather stay silent than speak to a professional are beginning to become outdated. But this progress isn’t universal.

Mental health charity MIND’s 2020 report found men in the UK were three times more likely to see a therapist when worried or low than a decade earlier, and equally as willing as women to see a doctor, despite being less willing before.⁷

This may signal changing notions of masculinity in Britain, as more men feel ok about asking for help. But despite the rise in claims, it seems that in some countries mental health remains a taboo.

For example, mental health accounted for just 0.3% of insurance claims in Latin America in our 2022 data (globally it’s 233% higher).¹¹  Research showed there is still a stigma associated with poor mental health in Latin America, where stigma around mental health issues bringing “disgrace” to a family playing a key role in many not seeking treatment.

And a 2020 survey in Ireland found that despite a majority of people holding accepting views of others suffering with mental health issues, 63% believed that Irish society in general would view receiving treatment as a sign of personal failure. ¹²

Multinationals might need to think about a more regionalised approach to mental health benefits and how they communicate about the services they offer their people.

So, you want to offer the men in your workplace proactive support. There are steps you can take to break down taboos and engage your people with mental health support tools.

Consultants McKinsey highlighted the explosion of digital wellbeing apps as an opportunity for employers to tap into the popularity of the technology to promote workers’ mental health.¹³  This is an especially popular strategy among the youngest group in today’s workforce as Generation Z workers rate mental health as a top concern.¹⁴

Compared to older age groups, Gen Zs report the highest use of healthcare and wellbeing technologies provided by employers – such as telehealth services and mental health support apps – as the most valuable benefits and will consider these carefully when choosing a new role.¹²

And while Gen Zs have grown up these apps, they’re not the only ones who appreciate a tech-first approach. Four of out of five workers across all generations said that technology helped them, and a majority highly rated workplace wellbeing resources as a factor in why they would choose an employer.

Despite a general trend toward ending stigma over men seeking mental health help and growing interest in workplace wellbeing resources, the reality is those services aren’t always there to meet the demand.

According to brokers Mercer Marsh Benefits, 16% of insurers globally in 2023 reported they don’t provide plans that cover mental health services at all.¹⁵

So, what can you do to join the ranks of multinationals who are helping people like ‘Daniel’ in  need of mental health support?