Both men and women experience mental health issues, but for men, mental health is often overlooked and stigmatized, and men are significantly less likely than women to seek professional mental health treatment, often because of stigma, cultural expectations, or the belief that asking for help is a sign of weakness.¹

Due to culturally dominant traditional masculine ideals, many men choose to behave stoically, individually, and self-sufficiently and tend to prefer emotional control and avoiding vulnerability.² As a result, many men view seeking help for mental health issues as a sign of weakness and a threat to their masculinity and avoid seeking help out of shame and fear of damaging their social standing.² Avoiding seeking help can lead to dysfunctional coping strategies in men and can cause psychological well-being to severely deteriorate and mental health issues to become chronic.²

Consider these statistics:

• Nearly one in 10 men experience depression or anxiety, but less than half receive treatment.¹

• Men are four times more likely to die by suicide than women.¹

• About one in three people struggling with an eating disorder is male.³

• Men are around two to three times more likely to meet the criteria for a substance use disorder than women.⁴

Addressing men’s mental health

Understanding the unique stigma surrounding men’s mental health and why male patients may be reluctant to openly express their feelings can help providers approach their patients with empathy, ensuring they feel safe and heard. Having open conversations with male patients can help providers identify the warning signs of mental health issues early, and early intervention and treatment for these issues can help improve health outcomes for men.¹ As Stuart L. Lustig, MD, MPH, the National Medical Executive for Behavioral Health Strategy and Product Design at Cigna Healthcare^®, notes in a recent Cigna Healthcare Newsroom article: “When people work on their mental health, they more easily recover from setbacks, are more resilient, and thrive in both work and life.”

Mental health resources

Cigna Healthcare offers the following resources that you can use to support the mental health of your male patients:

• Preventive Care Services (A004) administrative policy: This policy provides information on the various mental health screenings and assessments that can be provided during wellness examinations.
• Cigna Healthcare behavioral health network: Cigna Healthcare offers a large network of quality behavioral specialists, with both in-person and virtual options, that can be accessed through the provider directory, myCigna.com^®, and the myCigna^® App.
• Behavioral and Mental Health Resources for Providers: This web page provides you with information and tools that you can use to support the mental health and well-being of your patients.
• Behavioral Health Interactive Guide: This guide helps patients to connect with resources for mental and emotional well-being.  
• Behavioral health coaching and peer support services: For eligible patients, Cigna Healthcare covers outpatient behavioral health coaching and peer support services for those with mental health and/or substance use disorders.

The Visibility Gap podcast

Season 3 of The Visibility Gap^®, a podcast by Cigna Healthcare, focuses on men’s mental health. It explores how traditional concepts of masculinity and the pressures many men carry can erode mental health and discourage emotional openness and examines the cost of staying silent about mental health. Listen to or watch the latest season to learn more about how to normalize conversations about mental health and the importance of earlier, more proactive support.

1. Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA). “Men’s Mental Health: Signs, Statistics, and How to Get Help.” ADAA. 12 May 2026. Retrieved from https://adaa.org/find-help/by-demographics/mens-mental-health.

2. Gary Shepherd, et al. “The challenges preventing men from seeking counselling or psychotherapy.” Mental Health & Prevention. September 2023. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2023.200287.

3. National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). “Eating Disorders in Men and Boys.” NEDA. 2026. Retrieved from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/eating-disorders-in-men-and-boys/.

4. Robyn Ellis, et al. “Gender differences in illicit drug access, use and use disorder: Analysis of National Survey on Drug Use and Health data.” Journal of Psychiatric Research. July 2024. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.05.017.