“Talk about it:” changing masculinities and mental health in rural places?

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) 2020-08, Vol.258, p.113099, Article 113099
• Main Authors: Herron, Rachel V., Ahmadu, Mairo, Allan, Jonathan A., Waddell, Candice M., Roger, Kerstin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Canada; Community; Community change; Community mental health services; Crises; Family relations; Friendship; Gossip; Hegemony; Humans; Male; Manitoba; Masculinity; Men; Men's Health; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Place; Relatives; Rural; Rural areas; Rural development; Spouses; Stigma; Substance abuse; Suicide; Talking; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113099

Rural men's mental health has been described by some scholars as a "silent crisis." Rural men report lower levels of stress and depression and, paradoxically, much higher rates of suicide and substance use. Research has linked rural men's silence to dominant forms of masculinity with limited consideration of how masculinities are changing within and across rural places. In this article, we draw together literature on changing masculinities, rural places, and rural men's mental health to explore how, where, and with whom rural men talk about mental health; as well as their perspectives of what it means to be a healthy man. To collect in-depth information about men's perceptions and experiences of mental health and masculinity, the study employed semi-structured interviews with 23 adult male participants (aged 20-79 years) in Manitoba, Canada. Men in the study described the complex dynamics of talking about mental health with spouses, other family members, friends, and in the community. Many men wanted to talk about their mental health and some men actively developed relationships to support "talking about it;" however, they also identified competition, gossip, and stigma in relation to talking about mental health in the community. Most men in the study resisted hegemonic masculinities and some men aspired to more balanced, relational, and caring ideals. Men in the study identified community and environmental challenges to talking about mental health and changing masculinities in rural places. We argue that addressing the so-called silent crisis of rural men's mental health requires greater attention to community change and rural development to support relationships and places to talk about mental health. •Rural men's mental health has been described as a “silent crisis”.•Men in our study expressed a desire to talk about their mental health.•Men in our study identified challenges talking about mental health in rural spaces.•Rural community development is critical to addressing the so-called “silent crisis”.