In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need to address men’s mental health, a domain that has long been overshadowed by stigma and neglect. With rising rates of male suicide, depression, and substance use, the urgency to develop effective interventions is undeniable.

However, as mental health professionals and researchers work to close the treatment gap, one recurring challenge has emerged: the tendency to apply interventions designed for women to men, often without considering the profound psychological, cultural, and biological differences that may influence mental health outcomes.

While it is tempting to assume that mental health interventions are one-size-fits-all, such assumptions can inadvertently do more harm than good when addressing men’s unique needs. Here, we explore the pitfalls of this approach and the importance of tailoring mental health strategies to serve men better.

Gender Differences in Mental Health Presentation

Mental health symptoms often manifest differently in men and women. Depression, for instance, is frequently associated with sadness, crying, and withdrawal in women—symptoms that align with traditional diagnostic criteria. In men, however, depression can present as irritability, aggression, risk-taking behaviors, or emotional numbness. These differences arise not only from biological factors like hormonal influences but also from societal expectations of masculinity, which discourage men from expressing vulnerability or seeking help.

When interventions designed for women are applied to men without modification, they often fail to address the gendered expressions of distress. For example, therapeutic techniques that emphasize emotional introspection or open vulnerability—approaches that have shown success in women’s mental health—may alienate men who have been socialized to suppress such behaviors. As a result, the interventions can inadvertently reinforce the barriers that prevent men from engaging in mental health treatment in the first place.

The Role of Masculinity in Mental Health

Traditional masculinity norms—such as the emphasis on stoicism, self-reliance, and emotional control—play a significant role in how men experience and respond to mental health challenges. While such norms are evolving, they still influence many men, shaping their willingness to seek help and the types of interventions they find acceptable.

Mental health treatments that overlook such cultural dynamics risk being perceived as irrelevant or emasculating. For instance, group therapy sessions that encourage emotional disclosure without considering men’s comfort levels may lead to feelings of shame or inadequacy, driving disengagement. Similarly, mindfulness practices prioritizing quiet reflection may clash with men’s preference for action-oriented solutions, such as problem-solving or goal-setting exercises.

Understanding and addressing such dynamics is critical. Interventions that honor men’s values—such as emphasizing strength through seeking help or framing therapy as a tool for personal growth and resilience—are often more effective in engaging male clients.

Biological and Neurological Differences

In addition to cultural factors, biological and neurological differences between men and women may influence the effectiveness of specific interventions. For example, research has shown that men and women process stress differently due to variations in brain structure, hormone levels, and stress-response systems. Women are more likely to engage in tend-and-befriend behaviors during stress, seeking social support, whereas men are more inclined toward fight-or-flight responses.

Therapeutic approaches that rely heavily on social connections and support networks—such as some forms of group therapy or community-based interventions—may resonate more strongly with women than men. Conversely, men may benefit from interventions incorporating physical activity, competition, or structured problem-solving, which align with their stress-response tendencies.

Ignoring biological differences risks creating a mismatch between the intervention and the individual, reducing the likelihood of therapeutic success.

The Danger of Overlooking Men’s Unique Needs

When men’s mental health is treated with interventions designed for women, several risks emerge:

1. Low Engagement and High Dropout Rates: Men who feel that a therapeutic approach does not align with their needs or values are less likely to engage fully and more likely to discontinue treatment prematurely.
2. Reinforcement of Stigma: If interventions inadvertently make men feel weak or inadequate for struggling with mental health, they may reinforce the stigma that prevents men from seeking help in the first place.
3. Missed Opportunities for Effective Treatment: By failing to account for gender differences, clinicians may overlook strategies that could be more effective for men, such as incorporating physical activity, mentorship programs, or skill-building workshops.
4. Worsening Outcomes: In some cases, interventions that feel irrelevant or invalidating may exacerbate a man’s sense of isolation or hopelessness, worsening mental health outcomes rather than improving them.

Toward Gender-Informed Mental Health Care

To truly address men’s mental health, it is essential to move beyond a “copy-paste” approach to treatment. Instead, mental health professionals should adopt a gender-informed framework that recognizes and respects the unique needs, experiences, and values of men.

Key Principles for Gender-Informed Care

1. Engage Men on Their Terms: Framing therapy as a tool for building strength, achieving goals, or solving problems can help men see mental health care as empowering rather than emasculating.
2. Incorporate Action-Oriented Strategies: Interventions that involve physical activity, structured tasks, or skill-building exercises may resonate more deeply with men than purely introspective approaches.
3. Acknowledge Masculinity Norms: Rather than dismissing traditional masculinity as a barrier, clinicians can work within its framework to help men redefine strength and resilience in healthier ways.
4. Train Clinicians in Gender Differences: Mental health professionals need training to recognize how men and women may experience and express mental health challenges differently. This includes understanding how cultural, biological, and psychological factors intersect in shaping men’s mental health.
5. Promote Male-Friendly Support Networks: Peer mentorship programs, fatherhood groups, or community initiatives can provide men with a sense of connection and support without requiring them to abandon their comfort zones.

Men’s mental health deserves the same level of attention and nuance as women’s mental health. While there is much we can learn from interventions that have proven successful for women, it is critical to recognize that men’s mental health needs are not identical to women’s. By tailoring interventions to align with men’s unique experiences and values, we can create more effective, inclusive, and compassionate mental health care systems.

Addressing men’s mental health is not just about reducing stigma or increasing access to care—it is about meeting men where they are and empowering them to thrive. Only then can we bridge the gap and ensure that all individuals, regardless of gender, receive the support they need to live fulfilling healthy lives.