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There has been a rise in the number of young men seeking professional help for mental health issues, a psychotherapist based in the kingdom has said, offering a glimmer of hope, coinciding with Movember this month.
Movember is an annual global campaign observed in November to raise awareness about men’s mental and physical health. As per the movement’s tradition, men grow moustaches to express solidarity with the cause.
“I have witnessed an increase in the importance of mental well-being among men, especially young men, mainly due to public campaigns and social media discussions surrounding mental health,” Head and Heart Mental Health Centre psychologist Dr Anne Renard told GulfWeekly.
“Women are also more actively encouraging their partners to seek support. The stigma surrounding mental and emotional issues is eroding and it is starting to become more acceptable for men to seek psychological support,” the expert, who has a doctoral degree in psychology from California Southern University and has been practicing in Bahrain for the last 13 years, added.
Brazilian expatriate Isael was among those who sought professional help for his mental well-being and felt the decision transformed his life, even offering a change in perspective.
“During the sessions, I realised there was no judgement,” the 45-year-old, who has lived in the Middle East for the last 15 years and in Bahrain since 2018, said.
“My therapist showed me the various directions and helped me choose what’s best for me.”
Isael found his mental health deteriorating during the Covid-19 pandemic. With many around him losing their jobs and friends leaving the country, there was a lot of uncertainty. He decided to continue working because finances were a priority, however, as the world began shutting down, he grew apprehensive about not being able to see his family.
“At the end of 2020, I resigned from my job and went home (to Brazil) and while I was happy to be with my loved ones, it was a difficult transition,” he added.
A determined Isael started his own business but realised it was challenging. Eventually, he returned to Bahrain but wasn’t able to strike a work-life balance and felt burned out. That’s when a friend advised that he talk to a therapist.
“My situation didn’t change but the sessions helped me change my approach,” he said.
“I understood that even if I can’t be with my family always, I could spend quality time with them during holidays. Counselling helped me find meaning in my life and work,” he added.
“During these sessions, I was encouraged to make new friends even if my old ones had left the country. I realised so many people here were away from family, which made me feel less lonely. I also joined a CrossFit class where I met new people and took up horse riding, which kept me busy.”
Despite the visible shift in perception among men towards mental health and therapy, Dr Anne encourages creating safe spaces for them to share their feelings and concerns.
“At the societal level, this can be done through increasing awareness of mental health and psychological support, educating on identifying the signs of mental health issues, for example, through social media and public awareness campaigns. This can also be done through partnering with schools and workplaces.
“Creating support groups and workshops where men can share their concerns with others suffering from similar problems can also be useful. Including psychological support into health insurance would reduce its cost, making it more affordable for more individuals.
“Within families, it is about creating a safe environment for dialogue where the expression of issues is met with empathy and a non-judgmental stance.
“Listening empathically is more effective than providing advice, being supportive is more effective than pressuring someone to talk. Modelling vulnerability and reducing gender role expectations can also help,” she added.
“It is important to remember that as family members and friends, we can be there and supportive but we cannot act in the same way that a therapist would.
“Therapy offers more than support that family and friends cannot offer,” she highlighted.
In the public domain too, several male figures have been vocal about their mental health journey and seeking professional help. Duke of Sussex Prince Harry has admitted to seeking therapy in several media interviews.
Former Bahrain resident and creative entrepreneur Nikhil Taneja took to his public Instagram page on World Mental Health Day last month, to talk about his experience battling severe anxiety and how therapy changed his life.
Earlier this year, Nikhil hosted the second season of Be A Man, Yaar!, a production about positive masculinity under Yuvaa, his youth-centric platform, showcasing interviews with famous Indian men, including actors to sportspersons.
