September is Suicide Prevention Month and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Dear Healthy Men: In some of your previous columns you’ve highlighted various health awareness months and their connections to men’s health. Are there any in September?

A: Since men’s health is a year-round issue (just like women’s health), it’s no surprise that September would include health awareness periods for several conditions that are especially important to men: suicide and prostate cancer. Although one is a condition of the mind and the other of the body, neither one gets the attention it deserves, and both are too often shrouded in silence and stigma.

Let’s start with suicide. According to the CDC, an average of nearly 50,000 Americans commit suicide every year. Eighty percent of them are male, making it one of the leading causes of death for men. There are many factors that contribute to this tragedy, but one of the biggest is cultural pressure. Men (and boys) are often socialized to suppress emotions, to project an image of strength, and to view seeking mental health support as a sign of weakness.

How big a problem is this? A recent study by UCLA found that 60% of males who took their own lives “had no documented mental health conditions.” In other words, they never asked for help. Why not? Well, a recent survey by the research firm Compare the Market, found that “78% of American men avoid discussing their mental health due to embarrassment and stigma.” This survey also noted that “20% of respondents have had a negative past experience when opening up about their mental health, which has further discouraged them.” This reluctance to ask for help can lead to isolation, where feelings of despair are hidden until they become unbearable.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in American men. Roughly one in eight men will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime. Yet, for all its prevalence, talking about prostate health—and the necessary screenings like the PSA blood test—can feel deeply uncomfortable. The conversations are intimate, and those old, familiar societal pressures to be stoic and self-sufficient often clash with the vulnerability required to discuss one’s health openly and honestly. Not having those critical conversations and not getting screened regularly can have devastating consequences. Caught early, prostate cancer is highly treatable, with a nearly 100% five-year survival rate for localized cases. But when it metastasizes, spreading throughout the body, that rate plummets. Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is a vital reminder that a simple conversation with a doctor can be a life-saving act.

The fact that September hosts both of these important awareness periods is a nice metaphor for the inextricable link between mental and physical health. A man who is too proud or ashamed to see a doctor for a physical exam is often the same man who would never admit to struggling with depression or anxiety or any other mental health issue. The stigma around both is rooted in the same toxic mis-definition of what it means to be a man.

Although I love data and studies, the true work of awareness months is not just about numbers and diagnoses; it’s about changing our culture. So this September, let’s shake things up a little, starting with having open, honest conversations. Encourage the men in your life—your fathers, sons, brothers, and friends—to get a check-up and to talk about their wellbeing. Share information about the importance of prostate cancer screening and the signs of suicidal ideation. Let them know that seeking help for a physical ailment or a mental health struggle is not a sign of weakness, but a profound act of strength, courage, and self-preservation. By doing this, we can save lives and help create a world where every man feels empowered to live a full and healthy life.

Photo by Akhil Nath on Unsplash