October 10 is world mental health day, lets discuss why men's mental health is still a taboo?

Why is it a taboo amongst men? How did we get here?

Through the ages, evolution meant that men were bestowed with stronger physical features and naturally fit into the role of protecting their family against predators.

Men could take on hard labour utilizing every part of their body and fight against feuding tribes and animals. For thousands of years, physical fitness meant family safety but not anymore.

What has changed? Technology

Humans have automated almost everything that require hard labour and have largely domesticated or isolated animals. In this modern age, to protect and provide for the family, you need more mental ability.

Men's broad shoulders are of no use in troubleshooting a software or a financial model or a semiconductor design or managing pension funds.

All of a sudden, brain has trumped brawn. There is disproportionate strain on the brain as it accounts for just 2-3% of body mass; increasingly we use rest of the body as a means of transport for the brain.

Technology has disrupted nature's design of human body. We are the only species that go to the gym to exercise all of body parts, it does not happen naturally.

There is no empirical evidence of any of the other animals intentionally exercising for physical fitness or meditating for mental health, they all naturally fit into planet earth.

Evolution has always had a pact with mother nature but not with technology. It is evident that evolution has lost the race with technology forever and will never catch up.

Whilst men take the role of protecting the family seriously, they have not reconciled to the underlying tectonic shift from brawn to brain.

Mental health issues are inevitable. Brain is no different from the other body parts, it requires periodic rest and reset to rejuvenate.

Seeking external help when required is not a sign of weakness but a modern necessity.

Postscript:

This short post may not break the taboo amongst men, hopefully it is thought provoking and a small step in the right direction.

Mental health impacts both genders. Women face extraordinary pressure balancing work and family, in a way women are more courageous than men when it comes to raising awareness and seeking help.

Taboo is not limited to gender, it is not common to openly discuss mental health issues in certain cultures.

It is best not to provide unsolicited advice or solutions, encourage your friends, colleagues or family to seek professional help.

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