Exploring Men's Mental
Health in
Aotearoa New Zealand
By India Stewart, Charlie Jenkins & Maya Nicol
The conversation in Aotearoa New Zealand on men's mental health is not often talked about in society, New Zealand males nevertheless have particular difficulties in managing their psychological well-being. Men's experiences with mental health are often shaped by the intersection of cultural expectations, historical ideas of masculinity, and socioeconomic constraints. These factors can create obstacles for men in addition to asking for help and showing vulnerability. We will be focusing on Stigma and masculinity, Men in University, Men in Sports, Elderly men, Poverty, Cultural and Societal factors, Statistics and Organisations that offer help in Aotearoa New Zealand.
This digital story aims to explore different areas of men's mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand through the theory of hegemonic masculinity, as well as investigating the resources available to males in the community and exploring potential solutions.
Hegemonic Masculinity
Mens mental health in Aotearoa aligns with the theory of hegemonic masculinity, which is described as ‘the dominant and culturally accepted ideal of masculinity within society’, this concept suggests that certain forms of masculinity are privileged and reinforced by social norms, institutions, and power structures, while other forms may be marginalised or stigmatised. (Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005)
Stigma & Masculinity
The stigma associated with men's mental health in New Zealand intertwines with the hegemonic masculinity theory, influencing men's experiences in expressing vulnerability and seeking help.
Men's mental health issues are typically stigmatised in society because traditional ideas of masculinity place a high value on emotional control and independence.
Consequently, men tend to be more angry, frustrated and irritable when they are emotional compared to women due to internalising emotions of shame or weakness, leading them to take it out on others, where they may fight with friends, hurting partners or children.
This stigma may show up as a reluctance to ask for help from a professional, which can cause delays in diagnosis and treatment and aggravate mental health problems.
But as attitudes in society progressively change, more people are becoming conscious of how damaging strict gender stereotypes are to men's mental health.
'A Glimpse into Mental Health' - A short film exploring Rua's personal experience of stigma surrounding men’s mental health in New Zealand (Attitude, 2017).
Men in University
Ellis Louise's thesis examines men's mental health and masculinity in New Zealand University students.
The findings are congruent with the idea of hegemonic masculinity. This explains that dominant male behaviours and ideals shape society norms and shape how people understand and express their gender.
According to this study, the focus that male students in Aotearoa New Zealand place on physique, athletics, and alcohol consumption is a reflection of hegemonic masculinity, in which these activities are valued as symbols of manhood and being a ‘man’ (Read, 2020).
Furthermore, the pressure to uphold stereotypical male standards such as emotional control and academic indifference illustrates how hegemonic masculinity puts a strain on men's mental health.
Connell's concept of hegemonic, subordinate, and marginalised masculinities (Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005) is echoed in the study's examination of how these norms build social hierarchies and impact behaviour, revealing the intricate relationship between individual experiences and prevailing male ideals (Read, 2020).
Men in Sport
According to Sport New Zealand, which looked at relevant peer-reviewed literature, physical activity can prevent mental illness across a lifespan (Sport New Zealand, 2018).
This is seen when people who are physically active have a 17% lower chance of developing depression. Furthermore, physical activity reduces the chance of experiencing depression in males by 10% in children (5-18 years), 22% in adults (18-64 years) and 21% in older adults (65+ years) (Sport New Zealand, 2018).
This clearly shows that from 18-64 it is most important to engage in physical activity. The reason behind this is because it improves the functioning of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Physical activity also helps increase physical strength, endurance, bone mineral density, and neuromusculoskeletal fitness. Furthermore, regular exercise improves body composition, fitness, and motor abilities (Mahindru et al., 2023).
Additionally, Health New Zealand says we should aim to engage in physical activity 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes if the activity is of moderate intensity; or for 15 minutes if it is of vigorous intensity; or a mixture of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (Health New Zealand, 2024a).
This clearly shows it's vital that men engage in regular exercise in order to have less risk of developing any mental health problems.
Below 'Mind Set Engage' a partnership funded by NZ Rugby and Movember, supporting mens mental health in sports (Movember, 2023).
Elderly
With New Zealand's increasing life expectancy increasing (now 82), more people are getting to an older age.
This now means the average person has approximately 10-15 years spent in retirement. Te Pou found that as many as 1 to 2 in every 6 older New Zealanders may experience mental health problems, the majority of these being men, and that the most common mental health problems are depression and anxiety (Te Pou, 2024). With the increasing older population, so increases the mental health problems among them.
A reason behind these mental health problems can stem from things like them being less able, meaning they can't do the things they love to do, whether that's go for runs or go surfing.
Another reason could be that they are coping with an illness that is taking a lot of their mental capacity to get through. As well as this, homosociality refers to same-sex social relationships that are non-sexual in nature (Webster, 2024).
In the context of elderly men, homosocial interactions can have significant impacts on their mental health. However, elderly men nowadays perceive opening up and getting close with a male friend as gay or are worried they will be perceived as gay. This ultimately means they are less likely to share their feelings and talk about things they might be experiencing, possibly causing built-up emotions ending in anxiety and depression.
Background image from Canva and image bleow is (Gupwell, 2023)
Poverty, Cultural & Societal Factors
In New Zealand, living in material hardship or poverty tends to significantly impact men's mental wellbeing.
According to Unitec, families that lack necessities are considered to be in poverty, while those whose income is less than 60% of the current median income are considered to be in income poverty (Haigh, 2018). Stress and a sense of worthlessness and hopelessness can result from not having access to basic essentials.
In addition, if a person's unemployment is the reason for their poverty, this might exacerbate their stress levels because of their potential excess of free time and not knowing what to do with it. This impacts how people feel about themselves, ultimately causing mental health problems within Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Men having poor living conditions, housing and nutrition while not being able to afford healthcare means they are at risk of being physically sick, which then, in turn, also impacts their mental wellbeing (Knifton & Inglis, 2020).
In addition to this, men in New Zealand who become mentally unwell, regardless of the underlying cause, are then more likely to recede into poverty. This then creates a vicious cycle because once they are in poverty, the environment cultivates mental health problems, as said above (Frech & Damaske, 2019).
Furthermore, due to men's social and cultural norms that discourage them from sharing their feelings, it significantly impacts their mental health, which in turn affects how they solve problems or cope with stress.
Image from (Greene, 2023)
Statistics
- One out of eight men will experience serious depression at some time in their life, compared to one out of five women (Men’s Health Week, 2020).
In the Graph above (Health New Zealand, 2024b)
- Men accounted for roughly three-quarters (72%) of NZ suicide rates in 2020 (Umbrella, 2017)..
- Between 2019 and 2020, up to 185,000 people sought or were referred to mental health services, and more than half of them were male (Te Hiku Media, 2022).
- When men are finally diagnosed with a mental health issue, they are more likely to be seriously unwell compared to women (McKenzie et al., 2022).
These statistics may be because ......
Much like the hegemonic masculinity theory, men are often reluctant to talk about mental health issues, which means they are less likely to report they are depressed or have anxiety. And if they do eventually seek help, it's often much later than women.
- Lifeline - https://www.lifeline.org.nz/
- Youthline - https://youthline.co.nz/get-help/
- The Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/
- Suicide Crisis Helpline https://www.lifeline.org.nz/services/suicide-crisis-helpline.
They all have informational resources and/or helplines so people in distress can text, call and talk with someone.
In July 2023 She is not your Rehab Founders created and released innerBoy which is a free men's mental health app. The idea behind this is therapists often refer to "inner child" as the younger self and so if men can learn to find ways to heal then they will be better partners and parents, brothers and sons etc. "It is a digital sanctuary for men, providing a safe space where they can reclaim their identities, and break free from the chains of intergenerational trauma"m the chains of intergenerational trauma”
(Brown, n.d.)
In conclusion men in New Zealand have difficulties in managing their psychological wellbeing. This. is due to the intersection of cultural expectations, historical ideas of masculinity, and socioeconomic constraints. However, it's clear that organizations and campaigns dedicated to combating the stigma surrounding men's mental health have played a significant role in reducing men's mental health issues, as well as suicide rates across all ages in Aotearoa New Zealand. Remember to stay connected with friends and family, and continue supporting both local and international efforts to further this important cause.
References
Attitude. (2017). A Glimpse Into Mental Health: Rua's Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0AW9lBZ2Rw
Brown, M. (n.d.). Innerboy: 30 Day Programme App (available NZ only). InnerBoy by Matt Brown | 30 Day programme app (available NZ only). https://innerboy.nz/
Connell, R. W., & Messerschmidt, J. W. (2005). Hegemonic masculinity. Gender & Society, 19(6), 829–859. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243205278639
Frech, A., & Damaske, S. (2019). Men’s Income Trajectories and Physical and Mental Health at Midlife. The American journal of sociology, 124(5), 1372-1412. https://doi.org/10.1086/702775
Greene, T. (2023, June 6). Mental health. Men’s Health Week. https://menshealthweek.co.nz/mental-health2/
Gupwell, S. (2023, November 3). Here’s exactly how long you should hug your mates for to get the mental health benefits. therock.net.nz. https://www.therock.net.nz/home/rock-news/2023/11/if-kiwi-men-hugged-their-mates-for-six-seconds-a-lot-of-mental-health-problems-could-be-better.html
Haigh, D. (2018). Poverty in New Zealand.
Health New Zealand. (2024a). Physical Activity. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-new-zealanders/support-for-families-and-children/physical-activity/#:~:text=aim%20to%20do%20aerobic%20activity,and%20vigorous%2Dintensity%20aerobic%20activity
Health New Zealand. (2024b). Suicide data web tool. https://tewhatuora.shinyapps.io/suicide-web-tool/
Hope Centre. (2024). https://www.lifematters.org.nz/hope-centre
Knifton, L., & Inglis, G. (2020). Poverty and mental health: policy, practice and research implications. BJPsych Bulletin, 44(5), 193-196. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2020.78
Mahindru, A., Patil, P., & Agrawal, V. (2023). Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review. Curēus (Palo Alto, CA), 15(1), e33475-e33475. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33475
Man Alive. (2024). https://www.manalive.org.nz/
McKenzie, S. K., Oliffe, J. L., Black, A., & Collings, S. (2022). Men’s Experiences of Mental Illness Stigma Across the Lifespan: A Scoping Review. American journal of men's health, 16(1), 15579883221074789-15579883221074789. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883221074789
Movember. (2024). https://nz.movember.com/mens-health/mental-health
Movemeber, N. (2023, November 21). Mind set engage - brought to you NZ Rugby and movember. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MShoaczyr9k&t=8s Men’s Health Week. (2020). Mental Health. https://menshealthweek.co.nz/mental-health2/
NZGOVT, N. (n.d.). Seeing depression as a health issue for men. Men and Depression. https://www.cph.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/meh0013.pdf
Read, E. L. (2020, March 9). Exploring perspectives on masculinity and mental wellbeing: The case of students in Higher Education in New Zealand. figshare. https://openaccess.wgtn.ac.nz/articles/thesis/Exploring_perspectives_on_masculinity_and_mental_wellbeing_The_case_of_students_in_higher_education_in_New_Zealand/17142794/1
Sir John Kirwan Foundation. (2024). https://jkfoundation.org.nz/
Sport New Zealand. (2018). Mental Health Inquiry - New Zealand 2018. https://sportnz.org.nz/media/1643/mental-health-inquiry-new-zealand-2018-submission-formatted.pdf
Te Hiku Media. (2022). Hauora Hinengaro - Men's Mental Well-Being. https://tehiku.nz/te-hiku-radio/tautinei/28247/hauora-hinengaro-mens-mental-well-being
Te Pou. (2024). Working with older people with mental health and/or addiction needs. https://www.tepou.co.nz/stories/working-with-older-people-with-mental-health-or-addiction-needs
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. (2024a). https://mentalhealth.org.nz/
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. (2024b). Chur! All good, bro? https://shop.mentalhealth.org.nz/product/577-chur-all-good-bro-
Tough Talk. (2024). https://www.toughtalk.nz/
Umbrella. (2017). What being masculine really means for men’s mental health in New Zealand. https://umbrella.org.nz/mens-mental-health-in-new-zealand-social-norms/
Webster, M. (2024). https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homosocial
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