In Bangladesh, June is not officially or institutionally celebrated as Men's Mental Health Awareness Month through any significant organized effort. While there is some practice of observing this month through various foundations and universities on social media, online only observance is far from sufficient to raise meaningful mental health awareness among the vast male population of Bangladesh. A long standing taboo has persisted in Bangladesh, the belief that ‘men don't cry’ and ‘men must not break down.’ This deeply rooted misconception is not unique to our country alone; it is widely observed among the majority of men across South Asia.

 

Men are frequently subjected to ridicule and criticism in various social circles and even in the workplace. When, after facing neglect from the outside world, they come home seeking even a little peace and wish to share their inner struggles to ease their mental burden, they often find themselves ignored there as well. The mental pressure that builds up day after day eventually becomes too heavy a burden to bear. And in seeking relief from that burden, many turn to the only escape they feel is left- suicide. In Bangladesh, an estimated 10,000 to 14,000 people lose their lives to suicide every year, a significant portion of whom are men. According to various national and international studies, while women in Bangladesh have a higher rate of attempted suicide, the rate of completed suicide is considerably higher among men. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) indicate that an average of 13,000 people die by suicide in the country each year, of whom approximately 60% to 70% are men. But why has this month still not been celebrated on a larger scale in Bangladesh? The reason is not entirely unknown to us. One of the most troubling social ailments embedded in our society is that men from the very moment of their birth, are seen as the ‘backbone’ or the ‘breadwinner’ of the family. As a result, whenever a man expresses his emotional pain or mental struggles, society is quick to label him as ‘weak.’ Neglected within their families and communities, these men often find themselves overlooked even among their own circle of friends. On the other hand, October 10th is observed as ‘World Mental Health Day’ in Bangladesh on a large scale, both officially and unofficially. Consequently, this particular observance in June remains largely unfamiliar to the general public. The responsibility for this lack of awareness around men's mental health ultimately falls on us- for it is we who have, from the very beginning, dismissed and overlooked the mental struggles of men. But times are changing. Many male and female psychologists are now openly discussing men's mental health and bringing awareness to others in our society. While this effort may not yet be large in scale, it is certainly worthy of appreciation. Families, friends, institutions, and the state all have meaningful roles to play in building awareness around men's mental health- a culture where men feel safe to talk about their struggles must be established, this month must be officially recognized by the state, mental health education must be introduced in schools and colleges and during times of crisis, seeking professional help must be actively encouraged. Most importantly, we must let go of the idea that a man is supposed to be an unshakeable pillar of strength at all times. We must give men the space to be vulnerable. Because as we must remind ourselves- "being vulnerable is not the same as being spineless.”