Beyond workers' compensation: men's mental health in and out of work

Am J Mens Health. 2014 Jan;8(1):45-53. doi: 10.1177/1557988313490786. Epub 2013 May 30.

Abstract

The mental health of men is an important issue with significant direct and indirect costs emerging from work-related depression and suicide. Although the merits of men's community-based and workplace mental health promotion initiatives have been endorsed, few programs are mandated or formally evaluated and reported on. Conspicuously absent also are gender analyses detailing connections between masculinities and men's work-related depression and suicide on which to build men-centered mental health promotion programs. This article provides an overview of four interconnected issues, (a) masculinities and men's health, (b) men and work, (c) men's work-related depression and suicide, and (d) men's mental health promotion, in the context of men's diverse relationships to work (including job insecurity and unemployment). Based on the review, recommendations are made for advancing the well-being of men who are in as well as of those out of work.

Keywords: depression; gender socialization; hegemonic masculinity; suicide; work-related health.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Comorbidity
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Employment / psychology
  • Employment / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Masculinity
  • Men's Health / statistics & numerical data*
  • Mental Health / statistics & numerical data*
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / psychology
  • Occupational Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data
  • Workers' Compensation / statistics & numerical data*