Pulled this photo straight from class. I found it interesting. Also learned that most suicides in the U.S. take place in boys and young men between the ages of 15-24. Found it interesting when you compare it to the latest mass homicides, as well. We are a culture that teaches boys not to show emotion, that showing emotion is a sign of weakness, and then we sit around wondering what happened when all that pent up emotion erupts into tragic circumstances. Another thing to consider on mental illness is the way we, as a society, are not Inclusive of the mentally ill. We have a tendency to judge anyone who acts out and make up names for them, such as “psycho” and “cray-cray”. How do we lessen the stigma of mental health issues, and open a dialogue with young men, and all people about emotional well-being?
© 2026 – SoulSequel
19 responses to “mental illness”
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The societal changes needed to better life for the mentally ill are not minor nor easy.
First and foremost, there needs to an equivalency between how we regard physical illness and mental illness, particularly in the workplace, in school, and in relationships, both platonic and romantic. This is a big part of why some people with mental illness just give up.
Secondly, we need to differentiate between mental illness and just feeling bad. There are people who are having a bad day and think this equates to what clinical depression really is, or somebody who might be a little mercurial and think it equates to bi-polar disorder, etc. Mental illness is all too often worn as an accessory for some; there are plenty of social media accounts that boast about it, romanticize it, and undermine it. Both of these issues trivialize the gravity of what mental illness really is, and that makes it harder to gauge the degree of help somebody might need.
Thirdly, mental health services needs to be far more accessible. It is insane how hard and how expensive it can be to get professional help. Mental health services on college campuses are a joke, psychologists and psychiatrists don’t always merit the level of importance that a PCP might have for insurance, and there’s a stigma when you get that help. That stigma is lessening, I think, at least in my generation.
In direct response to the masculinity issue? This is totally a thing. I am absolutely a product of that. And it wasn’t because I had lording parents who superimposed masculine ideals. I grew up with strong, silent role models, and consequently, I have great difficulty opening up to anybody. I’m already set in my ways, and I’ve grown comfortable operating this way, but there are millions of boys and men who never achieve that level of comfort. I’m not entirely sure how to combat this other than to explore it, because eliminating that brand of masculinity is not the answer. I think by understanding the way these boys and men function, and why they are that way, is the only way to give future men the chance to understand how to grow into a healthy masculine persona, if they so choose.
@saintcharlie a very well thought out response! I agree with what you say about the accessibility of mental health services, not to mention the energy involved in learning about eap’s and what insurance covers before you can even access the service. My daughter attempted to use the mental health services on her campus, and was told she would be put on a waiting list, but would not likely get in until the fall semester. Luckily, we have insurance.
There are some small strides being made in some of the school systems, as far as teaching some emotional awareness. My seven year old step son was taught by his school to do belly breaths, still his school system has one counselor available per 615 students.
In the inner city schools, it is like visiting the jungles of Sumatra. it is bully or be bullied. nevermind learning to feel your feelings.
@Scarlett
My thought is that our educational institutions have totally dropped the ball when it comes to the issue of bullying.
It is a biological prerogative that has been with us for millions of years and is not likely to disappear just because we have grown incensed with it over the last few decades.
It is an abuse to our children to have them thinking they can just run to someone in authority to make it stop.
@griz I think that children need to be taught how to use inner and outer resources to deal with bullying.
@Scarlett
I would agree. The problem is we are not giving them any chance to develop their own internal resources before they run off to someone else for help.
And if there is nobody readily available, we’ve made them so vulnerable that more and more of them are killing themselves for the most meaningless of reasons. Like a mean text.
It’s like the hand sanitizer syndrome, where parents think they are safeguarding them but are actually making them far more vulnerable, to basic reality.
@saintcharlie
Who might choose an unhealthy masculine persona?
@griz Those who don’t know any better.
The problem occurs when there is a blurred line between socially deviant and socially acceptable.
If America is not a case study for that; I don’t know who is??
It iappears to be socially acceptable to go bankrupt 4 times and still be respected as a successful business man. It appears to be socially acceptable to consider treating women as chattles and sex objects. It appears to be socially acceptable to take pride in owning machines designed to kill and maim humans offensively.
In many countries; all of these represent socially deviant behaviour.
Maybe a start to address your question would be to start establishing that is actually deviant behaviour, so the young men affected by these culturally acceptable issues have a guideline from which to act accordingly.
@spitfire3dc I don’t think many people view trump as socially acceptable. there is a right wing who views his lifestyle and choices as socially acceptable, while a great many others are not on board with that, and I think this will be seen in the mid term elections.
going only by the definition above, Trump would not be labeled as mentally ill. trump essentially ran for president so he could continue with the fraudulent and illegal activities he has always been involved in with little to no repercussions.
@Scarlett I would label trump a narcissist, which is a personality disorder, but does that equate to mental illness?
@Gina
Narcissistic personality disorder is a recognized psychological ailment.
But so too is gender dysphoria.
People with both can function moderately well in our society.
@griz I believe trump is a narcissistic and a sociopath.
Definition of Sociopath: A person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience.
@Gina
He definitely seems to have more personality issues than the average bear.
He is a heavy leader to have to carry.
@Scarlett I will believe the mid terms when I see them. The fact the guy is still there says something about the fact That I was alluding to. His deviant behaviour has been put up with for well past the best before date.
Most people will probably never be too supportive or inclusive of ‘mad-men’ ‘n’ ‘nuts’ because of their behaviors & character, which are often anywhere from annoying to life-threatening. Sorry….
..BUT we could tell them all they’re gifted mutants and they have to go to special… “schools” to develop their… “abilities”, where we’ll just keep them busy running obstacle courses and therapy to unblock their… “telekinetic abilities” so they can.. “fly”.
Funding will come from television ad revenue from the footage from the obstacle courses, and it’ll be called ‘MERICAN GLADIATORS
So basically counselors should do ‘roids!
The observation is valid. But the conclusion may have more to do with feminist ideology than with actual human behavioral development over millions of years.
The pop conclusion is that young men are in trouble because they are not more like women! This is a very very very very very recent phenomenon of thinking: and is very very very culturally based.
The behavioral norms for males and females developed over millions of years, not according to some evil patriarchy, but as a very organic process of our ancestors responding to the world around them according to generalized innate gender strengths and weaknesses, coupled with natural selection over time.
There were no plots or conspiracies. Men are not going to become better by becoming more like women; nor are women going to become better trying to pretend they are men. (Actual surveys and studies show women suffering far higher stress and unhappiness than they ever have).
Nor are we going to be able to overwrite millions of years of successful evolutionary selection just because we feel like we ought to.
Young men are suicidal because liberated women are trying to used shame and guilt to transform them into something they are not.
It’s the feminine archetypal hero story, overdosing on animus and running amok.
@griz I think everything you are referring to is just process.
@Scarlett
If you wish to, I would welcome you unpacking that a bit either publicly or privately.
I knew when I composed that reply that it could be taken as contentious. But I believe they are all valid points in helping to better understand these various processes we’ve entered into in just the past few decades.