Work

‘It Puts You at Odds With Society’: Masculinity and Men’s Experiences of Mental Illness Stigma

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The profound consequences of experiencing mental illness stigma are widely acknowledged. However, the gendered nature of stigma among men living with mood and anxiety disorders remains poorly understood. Despite dying by suicide at more than twice the rate of women, men are significantly less likely to be diagnosed and treated for depression and anxiety, a disparity often attributed to stigma. Drawing on concepts of structural, social, and self-stigma alongside a masculinities framework, this study explored how mental illness stigma is experienced and negotiated by 21 men living with depression and anxiety disorders. In-depth interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, generating three interconnected themes: (a) Fearing discrimination; (b) Suffering the subtleties of stigma; and (c) Carrying an invisible burden. Together, the findings demonstrate how stigma operates through gendered norms associated with hegemonic masculinity across structural, social, and individual levels, demanding men's constant vigilance over when to conceal or reveal their stigmatised identities. The findings underscore the need for gender-responsive de-stigmatising strategies that address not only individual attitudes to mental illness but also the social and structural conditions through which stigma and masculinities are mutually reinforced.

Source: Qualitative Health Research

DOI: 10.1177/10497323261450776

Authors: Sarah K. McKenzie, Georgia Ramsden, Susanna Every-Palmer, Snita Ahir-Knight, John L. Oliffe

Institutions: University of Otago, Health New Zealand, University of British Columbia, The University of Melbourne

Language: English

Topic: Gender Roles and Identity Studies

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,400