Masculinity and Mental Health: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and Help-seeking Behavior among Men in Urban Slums

A qualitative study was conducted over a period of two months, from June to July 2024, using purposive sampling to select 30 men from urban slum areas for in-depth interviews.The participants, aged 18-60 years, had been residing in these areas for >1 year and were willing to discuss mental health.Men with a diagnosed mental illness who were undergoing current treatment were excluded.Appropriate permission was obtained from the concerned authorities prior to commencement of the study.Written informed consent was obtained from all participants before conducting the interviews.Semi-structured interviews were conducted to allow participants the flexibility to share their personal experiences and perspectives on mental health.The data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes related to masculinity, stigma, and help-seeking behaviors. introductionIn recent years, India has witnessed a steady rise in mental health disorders, making them a significant public health issue.Among men, the prevalence of mental health morbidity has been estimated at 13.9%, with a lifetime prevalence of 16.7%, while the prevalence of mental health disorders has been estimated at 14.2%. 1 Key risk f ac tor s for men's ment al health include unemployment, job insecurity, divorce, loss of child custody, adverse childhood experiences, and major life transitions.Economic decline in male-dominated industries and occupational hazards heighten suicide risk.Divorce and custody loss contribute to emotional distress and substance abuse.Childhood adversity often leads to externalizing behaviors misclassified as social issues.Even positive transitions, like fatherhood, can trigger paternal postpartum depression, affecting both parents and children.Addressing these factors is crucial for effective mental health interventions. 2 Men's mental health, particularly in cases of depression and anxiety, is frequently undertreated due to societal stigma and traditional masculine norms.Men are less likely to seek treatment than women, which contributes to elevated rates of suicide, substance use disorders, and untreated psychological conditions.Cultural stigmatization and the influence of toxic masculinity further inhibit emotional expression, exacerbating mental health challenges, especially in marginalized populations.[3][4][5] objectives To explore how perceptions of masculinity contribute to mental health stigma and influence help-seeking behavior among men in urban slums.