“Strong and silent” mindset harming men’s mental health

2026-03-18 - 01:16

Cultural expectations that men remain “strong and silent” are contributing to worsening mental health outcomes. Medical Services Pacific Senior Counsellor Isireli Kidareva says many men delay seeking support until they are already in crisis. He adds suppressing emotions often leads to anger, substance abuse and relationship breakdown. “Often over time, unexpressed stress and trauma don’t