Are men the missing piece from your well-being jigsaw?

Abstract

Purpose

Questions whether organizational well-being strategies always recognize the differences between men and women when it comes to mental health.

Design/methodology/approach

Shows why men’s mental health is an area of concern and reveals how to ensure that an organization’s well-being strategy looks after men, as well as women.

Findings

Describes how the limited research that exists regarding the mental health of men paints a picture of men experiencing mental ill health in a different way from women. This makes it less likely that it will be identified, recognized or addressed using the current “female model” of mental health.

Research limitations/implications

Advises organizations to: train their managers to recognize the different symptoms of reduced mental health that men present with, so that they can identify when male staff are experiencing mental ill health; raise awareness of the fact that men experience mental ill health and that it is alright to talk about feelings; and remember that men may be very reluctant to talk to someone in the workplace about how they feel and may not want to talk to their doctor for the same reasons.

Practical implications

Advises organizations to: train their managers to recognize the different symptoms of reduced mental health that men present with, so that they can identify when male staff are experiencing mental ill health; raise awareness of the fact that men experience mental ill health and that it is alright to talk about feelings; and remember that men may be very reluctant to talk to someone in the workplace about how they feel and may not want to talk to their doctor for the same reasons.

Social implications

Considers that there has been a wealth of research into the mental health of women but still relatively little into the mental health of men.

Originality/value

Provides a set of practical recommendations for organizations to ensure that they are taking account of the mental health of their male employees.

Citation

De Mascia, S. (2015), "Are men the missing piece from your well-being jigsaw?", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 23 No. 6, pp. 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-06-2015-0094