Men-tal

The challenge

In the modern world, men's mental health is in crisis, but it is nonetheless stigmatized and frequently disregarded. Men are frequently under pressure from society to be emotionally strong, independent, and stoic, which discourages them from getting help for loneliness, anxiety, or depression. Factors such as economic instability, social isolation, and unrealistic standards set by social media contribute to feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth. Additionally, many men lack strong support networks, as male friendships tend to weaken over time due to cultural norms that prioritize independence over emotional connection. The problem is made worse by the rise of digital distractions like excessive social media use and gaming, which provide short-term rather than long-term fixes. This causes a lot of guys to suffer in silence, which raises the risk of substance use, self-harming behaviors, and even suicide. Breaking the stigma associated with mental health, encouraging candid discussions, and offering easily accessible support networks catered to the particular difficulties faced by males are all necessary to address this epidemic. It’s important to know that these men are not alone, and they have somewhere to turn to without being afraid of judgment.

The solution

A lot of the time, I catch myself sinking into my own thoughts without a way out. One solution I found was very effective for me was to write down what I was thinking. But after some time, journaling wasn’t enough. I wanted to have a conversation with someone and get some advice on the things I had on my mind. That’s when I started writing anonymously on block apps like Reddit, where I would share my thoughts, and people would give me their advice in the comments. That got me thinking: what if there was a safe place where I could share my thoughts with other men, interact with them, and also get some advice on things that were going through my mind? That’s when I thought of creating a platform for men’s mental health. A platform that will have an online anonymous chat where men could go and share their thoughts. A platform that would have articles specifically targeted at men’s mental health renewed daily so men can get more professional advice on their problems for free. But that, for me, wasn’t enough. A lot of times, men are not the problem, the problem is how society treats them. This platform will also have a section where it will be accessible to women, so they can learn how it feels to be a man and how to treat men generally, especially when they go through something.