Breaking the silence: Supporting men’s mental health in your workplace

Every year, thousands of men suffer in silence at work. Many never seek help, even when the signs are clear.

Despite progress and awareness campaigns, men’s mental health in the workplace remains a critical concern in 2025, as recent statistics show. About 10% men will suffer some kind of mental health issue, but only half will receive treatment. In North America and the UK, men represent about 75% of suicides. In many countries, suicide is even a leading cause of death for men. Other research has shown that less than 20% of men got in touch with a mental health professional before their suicide — 15 points less than women. Men’s mental health is a serious topic, and work can play a key role as a hindrance or enabler.

The Unique Challenges Men Face

While women have fought against feminine stereotypes for equality of treatment and recognition in the workplace for years and made progress in many areas, masculine norms around what is expected of men socially seem to die hard.

A 2020 study by Benita N. Chatmon discusses “traditional” or even “toxic” masculinity as norms that emphasize certain expressions of masculinity, invoking power, dominance, and privilege over women. These norms impact men’s mental health by restricting behaviors such as crying or showing fear. According to these expectations, men should be “heroes” and are discouraged from expressing emotions, which are seen as signs of weakness — leading many to remain silent and endure difficulties alone. This dynamic is especially prevalent in male-dominated industries (engineering, computer science, construction, firefighting), where these norms and their associated stigma are reinforced.

In addition, men are more likely to be working full-time and longer hours than women (if we consider paid hours), being more exposed to work stressors and triggers.

Signs and Hidden Symptoms

It is not because they don’t share it that they don't suffer. Google searches for “male depression symptoms” grew 39% in 2025. So if they say nothing, how do we identify the signs?

Of course, each man is different, but certain signs appear frequently.

Physical signs

• lower energy
• loss of appetite
• changes in sleep patterns
• difficulties concentrating
• digestive problems or frequent headaches

Emotional signs

• irritability and quick anger
• mood swings
• aggressivity
• negativity

Behavioral signs

• anger outbursts
• use of alcohol or other substances
• increased risk-taking

When these signs go unnoticed or unspoken, the consequences can be profound — not just for individual men, but for their families, workplaces, and society at large. Left unaddressed, hidden symptoms often escalate, leading to outcomes that are both preventable and tragic.

The Cost of Silence

While awareness is slowly growing — with searches for “male depression symptoms” increasing 39% in 2025, and 95% of men now considering mental health as important as their physical health — global data still shows that men tend to be fatal victims of poor mental health more often than women:

• In Europe in 2022, males were 3.6 times as likely as females to die from intentional self-harm.
• In the UK, 3 out of 4 suicides are by men.
• In 2023, men died by suicide 3.8 times more than women.
• Men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women.
• Only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men.
• Men are nearly three times more likely to be dependent on alcohol.

Clearly, the consequences of silence around men’s mental health are far-reaching and deeply felt in workplaces everywhere. Yet, these outcomes are not inevitable. Employers are uniquely placed to challenge stigma, foster open conversation, and build supportive environments that change the story.

What Employers Can Do

Work plays a key role in men’s mental health: career pressure, work-life balance, job insecurity, toxic management, and persistent masculine stereotypes that men should be the breadwinners. Companies can break these barriers by building supportive cultures and enabling simple, practical actions:

• Destigmatize help-seeking by normalizing mental health conversations. Leaders and male employees sharing their experiences — especially during initiatives like Movember or Mental Health Awareness Week — helps reinforce that seeking help is strength.
• Promote initiatives focused on men’s wellbeing: newsletters, posters, lunch talks, or sessions featuring mental health advocates. Highlight male role models who prioritize balance and self-care.
• Make resources easily available. Ensure that support platforms such as Siffi, helplines, and therapy options are visible, accessible, and discreet.
• Train managers in basic mental health awareness — spotting early signs of stress, initiating supportive conversations, adjusting workloads.
• Encourage flexible work arrangements and balanced workloads. Avoid rewarding long hours as the only measure of success.
• Build peer networks. Create internal men’s mental health groups or informal check-ins. Consider mentorship programs.
• Sponsor events, workshops, or wellbeing retreats focused on emotional intelligence and stress management.

Men’s mental health at work is gradually coming out of the shadows, but employers must proactively dismantle stigma, build supportive environments, and create accessible channels for men to seek help and thrive.