Men’s Mental Health Awareness: Expanding the Conversation

Men’s Mental Health Awareness: Expanding the Conversation

June marks Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and at Orange County Health Psychologists, we’ve been reflecting on the unique emotional struggles men often carry and how therapy can help lighten the load. According to our Founder, Dr. Kristin Kleppe, as many as a third of our patients are now male, a significantly higher percentage than we saw just a few years ago.   

Men and Masculinity

Society has long taught men that vulnerability is weakness and emotional expression is unmanly. These messages run deep and for many men, they’re inherited from fathers, coaches, or cultural expectations that prized stoicism over sensitivity.

I just looked at my schedule and realized that 18 of my 29 appointments next week are men. Over and over, I hear the same things: “My dad didn’t talk about his feelings” or “This is weird for me to even be here.” But over time, through psychoeducation and honest conversation, they start to understand how emotional suppression has impacted them, and they begin to open up.
—Jason Blakemore, LMFT

In therapy, we work to challenge those scripts and help men redefine masculinity in ways that make space for connection, compassion, and self-awareness.

In my work with boys and men, particularly from BIPOC communities, I often explore the narrowing of the masculine spectrum. Social media has amplified polarizing images. Men are either “toxic” or “passive.” But there’s so much more in between.
—Rogelio Serrano, PsyD

Men and Emotional Pain: Depression, Shame & Tears

Men don’t always present with depression the way we expect. Instead of sadness, we often see irritability, anger, or withdrawal, behaviour that is often misunderstood or minimized.

Cultural messages about strength and shame play a huge role in how men process pain. Many feel like failures for struggling at all, and the stigma of therapy can compound the problem. But real strength isn’t about ignoring pain, it’s about facing it.

Many men classically refer to crying as weak and not letting people see  you cry as being tough. However, when exploring this concept in therapy, many men will admit that crying is very painful. It is ironic that letting yourself feel something painful emotionally or psychologically is thought of as weakness when in reality it takes a lot of strength to sit in pain. Dealing with our pain head on in order to try and heal and come out the other side more aware and healthier is actually a huge act of bravery.
—Jason Blakemore, LMFT

Men and Loneliness

Across sessions, one theme emerges again and again: loneliness. It doesn’t just affect single men it impacts men in relationships, too.

I see men reaching out for relief through substances, affairs, or angry outbursts, all behaviour that frequently mask a deep sense of isolation.
—Brian Harpst, LMFT

Some are afraid to open up to their partners. Others feel unheard in their own homes. Either way, the result is disconnection. In a culture that values independence and toughness, men are often taught to go it alone, but therapy can offer a safe, supportive space where they don’t have to.

Men and Intimacy

Intimacy requires vulnerability and for many men, that’s unfamiliar territory. Decades of being taught to “man up” or “keep it together” have made it difficult for some to even identify what they’re feeling, let alone express it.

Therapy can help men reconnect not just with others, but with themselves. It offers tools to navigate relationships with more honesty, empathy, and self-awareness. That, in turn, fosters deeper intimacy with partners, children, and friends.

Men in Therapy

The shift is happening. Slowly but powerfully, more men are entering therapy and doing the work to heal, grow, and change the narrative around mental health.

There’s no one right way to be a man, and there’s no shame in seeking support. At Orange County Health Psychologists, we feel honored to work with men who are:

  • Challenging generational norms
  • Making room for emotions
  • Rebuilding connection
  • Defining masculinity on their own terms

Whether you’re curious about therapy, feeling stuck, or tired of carrying emotional weight alone know that help is available.

This June, let’s break the silence and keep the conversation going. If you or someone you love is ready to take the next step, we’re here. Reach out today to Orange County Health Psychologists today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced clinicians.

We invite you to connect with Dr. Rogelio Serrano, Jason Blakemore, or Brian Harpst, or any of our other experienced licensed providers who are dedicated to helping you navigate your challenges with compassion and expertise.

Rojelio Serrano

About Dr. Rogelio Serrano

Schedule an appointment
949.805.0594
Serrano@OCHealthPsych.com

CA License # PSY29856

Jason Blakemore, LMFT

About Jason Blakemore, LMFT

Schedule an appointment
657.205.9970
Jason@OCHealthPsych.com

CA License # LMFT129697

Brian Harpst LMFT

About Brian Harpst, LMFT

Schedule an appointment
949.491.1107
Brian@OCHealthPsych.com

CA License # LMFT139206