Have you had weeks and weeks where you’re juggling work, projects, hobbies, social life, exercise, healthy eating, and sleep all while trying not to lose your mind? Sometimes, cloning yourself seems more viable than letting go of tasks to have a balanced life.

Whatever the cause for men’s difficulty in expressing emotions, it is the way that we are socialized which sits at the root (Nordin et al., 2024). Social norms, passed on decade after decade, have shaped the fear and shame associated with being vulnerable, crying and opening up about how we feel (Wagner & Reifegerste, 2024). The problem is, if we refuse to share how we feel with others, we can barely expect them to know if we are truly doing well. Men cannot call for support if we do not communicate. Eventually, this lack of disclosure and the resulting disconnection can leave us stuck by ourselves, isolated from our friends, family and partners, which is place closely linked to loneliness and even increased suicide risk (Bennett et al., 2024).

Many immigrants find themselves in unexpected mental states as a result of the significant differences between the culture of their home country and the culture of the host country. This difficulty is particularly evident in migrations between the Middle East and Europe. In social psychology, these significant differences are referred to as collectivist culture vs. individualist culture. After the initial culture shock caused by this difference, some people may be left with a lingering feeling. A feeling of not belonging.

Let’s talk about Gender Roles and Mental Health: A few years ago, the brother of a close friend of mine committed suicide. He wasn’t even 30. The news was devastating. But what’s even more shocking? The numbers: In 2021, there were around 746,000 suicide deaths worldwide. 519,000 were men, compared to 227,000 women (Weaver, 2025). In other words, 7 out of every 10 people who die by suicide are men. 

April rolls around every year as Stress Awareness Month and it’s like a big, friendly nudge to open up, talk about it and remind each other that we’re in this together. So, let’s dig into why this matters, what’s fueling all this stress, how it sneaks into every corner of our lives and most importantly how we can push back, one small step at a time.

Launched by the United Nations in 2007, it’s one of just seven health-focused days they spotlight (UN, 2024). It’s about rights, inclusion, and turning awareness into action. You might have noticed the “Light It Up Blue” campaign, landmarks glowing blue to say, “We see you” (Autism Speaks, 2025). This year’s theme, “Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” links autism to broader goals (UN, 2025) like education, employment and dignity for all. It’s not just talk; it’s about making space for autistic individuals to flourish.