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Jun 5, 202611 views2 min read

Men's Mental Health Month: 80 Percent of Suicide Deaths Are Men, Yet Few Seek Help

June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, and new data highlights a stark gap between need and treatment. Men account for 80 percent of all suicide deaths in the United States, yet only 17 percent of men sought help from a mental health professional in 2023. Experts say depression in men often looks different, presenting as anger or substance use rather than sadness.

Men's Mental Health Month: 80 Percent of Suicide Deaths Are Men, Yet Few Seek Help
Source:First Therapy / Mental Health America

June marks Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, and the numbers behind the observance are stark. Men account for 80 percent of all suicide deaths in the United States, yet only 17 percent of men sought help from a mental health professional in 2023, according to data cited by mental health advocates.

Men's Health Week runs from June 15 through 21, 2026, with events and campaigns aimed at reducing the stigma around men seeking mental health support.

Experts say one reason men are less likely to seek help is that depression in men often presents differently than in women. Rather than sadness or tearfulness, men with depression frequently show anger, irritability, overwork, substance use, or risk-taking behavior. These symptoms are less likely to be recognized as depression by the men themselves or by those around them.

Cultural expectations around masculinity play a significant role. Many men are raised to believe that seeking help is a sign of weakness, making it harder to reach out even when they are struggling.

Mental health professionals recommend that friends and family members of men watch for behavioral changes rather than waiting for someone to say they are depressed. Direct, non-judgmental conversations about mental health can make a difference.

Resources available during Men's Mental Health Month include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and the Veterans Crisis Line for military service members and veterans.

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