Men are dying by suicide while social expectations discourage them from expressing their emotions or seeking help, mental health experts have warned, calling for stronger efforts to identify and support people experiencing psychological distress.
Hairat Hussein Kiiza, a psychiatrist and mental health advocate, said many men struggle silently with mental health problems because society expects them to remain strong and suppress their emotions, even when they are overwhelmed.
“Men are trained not to talk about their emotions. They are trained not to cry,” Kiiza said during a suicide prevention summit.
She said these expectations could prevent men from seeking help when they experience emotional distress, exposing them to further psychological difficulties.
Kiiza stressed that men, like women, are vulnerable to mental health conditions but may find it difficult to acknowledge their struggles because of social pressure to appear emotionally strong.
The concerns come amid warnings from the Ministry of Health that mental health problems often go undetected among people seeking medical care, limiting opportunities for early intervention.
Hafsa Lukwata Sentongo, the Ministry of Health’s Assistant Commissioner in Charge of mental health and substance use, said health workers frequently miss opportunities to identify people experiencing psychological distress when they visit health facilities.
“Every day when they come to the health facility, we miss them,” Sentongo said, calling for stronger efforts to identify people with mental health problems before their conditions deteriorate.
She said depression could leave people hopeless and disinterested in their surroundings, making it difficult for them to cope with everyday life.
“Once someone is depressed, they lose hope. They lose touch with reality. They are not interested in things around them,” Sentongo said.
Sentongo also highlighted differences in the mental health experiences of men and women, observing that women appeared to experience depression more frequently while men accounted for more suicide cases in observations by mental health professionals.
She said further research was needed to establish the factors contributing to these differences.
Kiiza also identified young people, particularly those aged between 18 and 25, as a group facing social pressures that can affect their mental well-being.
She called for stronger suicide prevention measures and greater public awareness to encourage people experiencing emotional distress to seek support before their situations worsen.
Sentongo urged people facing personal, social, financial or academic difficulties to speak to trusted individuals instead of keeping their problems to themselves.
“If you have a problem, please share it. Open up and talk to someone,” she said.
The two experts called for greater attention to mental health in healthcare facilities, workplaces, schools and communities, where people experiencing distress can be identified and connected to appropriate support.
Their warnings highlight the need to challenge stigma surrounding mental health and create environments where men and young people can discuss emotional difficulties without fear of judgment.
They also urged health workers and communities to take mental health concerns seriously, noting that early identification and access to support are important in suicide prevention.