Men’s Mental Health Month & the Power of Creative Connection
June marks Men’s Mental Health Month. We feel called to acknowledge and break the silence that too often surrounds the emotional lives of men. Despite progress in mental health awareness, men still face unique barriers to seeking help, barriers rooted in outdated cultural norms, stigma, and a lack of accessible spaces that encourage vulnerability.
Men are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than women. They are less likely to access mental health services. And they are more likely to channel distress into substance use, anger, and withdrawal. These alarming statistics serve as an urgent call to action for everyone, particularly those in the mental health field. At Creativity and Madness, we firmly believe in the transformative power of creative expression. It can reach parts of ourselves that words, at times, cannot access. For many men (and people in general), creativity, through music, painting, film, writing, movement, and beyond, offers a bridge to the self, to healing, and a way to connect with others.
Why Men Stay Silent
The cultural narrative that men must be stoic, strong, and emotionally self-contained remains deeply ingrained in our society. Phrases like “man up” and “boys don’t cry” may seem outdated, yet they echo through generations, discouraging emotional openness and vulnerability. These internalized beliefs can make it difficult for men to acknowledge their emotional struggles, let alone seek support and ask for help.
Mental Health Professionals and clinicians can help people rewrite this story in sessions and, perhaps more importantly, in the larger cultural spaces we inhabit.
Creativity as a Gateway
Artistic expression does not ask for explanations. It does not shame or judge. Art invites emotional authenticity.
Creative expression enables men to transcend linguistic and societal constraints, tapping into emotions they may have suppressed for years. Whether it is a veteran using poetry to process trauma, a father picking up a paintbrush, or a teenage boy turning to music to express his identity, the creative process opens a path to exploring emotions and processing feelings.
We have seen this at our conferences time and time again: when men feel surrounded by a supportive community, something shifts. They soften. They speak. They heal. It is profound to witness. This underscores the crucial need for us all to actively create and maintain these supportive spaces.
Making Space for Men in Therapy and the Arts
This Men’s Mental Health Month, we can all reflect on how our culture, communities, and personal relationships either support or hinder men’s emotional well-being. Here are a few questions worth asking:
Do I normalize emotional expression in the men around me, at home, at work, or in social spaces?
Am I open to alternative pathways to healing, such as storytelling, time in nature, creative expression, or movement, especially for those who might not feel comfortable with traditional talk therapy?
Have I taken time to examine my own beliefs about masculinity and what it means for a man to express vulnerability and ask for help?
Shifting the narrative around men’s mental health starts with awareness, but it continues with action. Small, intentional choices build safer spaces for all people to be seen and honored.
A Call to Creative Action
Let’s not just talk about destigmatizing men’s mental health; let’s create spaces for men where they can feel seen, heard, and supported!
As clinicians, artists, and educators, we have the unique privilege of blending psychology with imagination. We have the honor, privilege, and duty to carve out new paths of healing that honor the emotional lives of men.
This June, we invite you to:
Share artwork that explores the emotional journeys of men.
Host or attend a creative group or circle for men.
Invite male-identifying clients to explore their creativity.
Check-in with the men in your life—not just with “How are you?” but “How’s your heart?”
We want to be clear: for us, this conversation does not end in June! We will continue to do our part in normalizing emotional expression for men and in creating more connected, healthier families, communities, and futures.
by Dr. Amy Vail and Alli Fischenich