Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month is observed in June to raise awareness about the mental health challenges men commonly face and to encourage them to seek help and support as needed. This observance involves destigmatizing mental health issues among men and promoting conversations about topics such as depression, anxiety, suicide prevention and the importance of seeking professional help. It also emphasizes the need for tailored mental health resources and support systems that cater specifically to men’s unique experiences and barriers to seeking help.
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month looks to improve the mental well-being of men by fostering understanding, acceptance and proactive management of mental health issues. LinkedIn professional, Dan Roth, advocates for mental health and supports others to share their personal issues. He has experienced some of the concerns related to mental health throughout his employment search in this unprecedented job market. He is keen on understanding men’s mental health and its correlation to job search and family dynamics.
Meet Dan Roth
Roth has put his heart and soul into helping others find work. He has experienced some of the job search and family effects related to mental health. Yet he has always remained gracious and giving to help those in need. He is a mental health advocate who wants to make a difference. His professional background is multi-faceted. Roth has:
- Served as a Managing Editor for TV, print and radio.
- Worked in retail and telecommunications before landing in healthcare and healthcare project management.
During the onset of the pandemic, Roth unexpectedly found himself unemployed with six-month-old twins. This period of uncertainty became a turning point that allowed him to delve into self-discovery and clarification of his career aspirations. Remarkably, within just six months, he received a pivotal call from Amazon. Soon after, he assumed the role of subject matter expert for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in his division, concentrating on critical positions and catalyzing significant cultural changes within the organization.
When the recession first hit, he knew there were hiring freezes. Yet due to his work creating DEI programs, nobody, including himself, expected to be let go. On Jan. 18, 2023, Dan received an email at 7:00 a.m. notifying him that his role was eliminated. He admitted how horrible it felt knowing that even though he was doing the best work of his life, he was still seen as an expendable number.
Despite facing mounting debt when the pandemic struck, everyone expected him to bounce back swiftly into a new role. However, faced with the daunting task of providing for his family while navigating the uncertainties of unemployment and parenting responsibilities, he confronted a harsh reality: The job market was stagnant, despite his extensive network and the flood of encouraging comments.
Men’s mental health Impact on the job search
Men’s mental health can significantly influence their job search journey in various ways. Issues like depression, anxiety or stress can impair their ability to concentrate, make decisions and perform effectively during job interviews or while on the job. Consequently, this can impact their overall performance and productivity, potentially influencing job search outcomes.
Moreover, challenges to self-esteem and confidence may hinder men from fully believing in their abilities, promoting their skills and presenting themselves positively in interviews or professional settings.
These mental health issues can also diminish motivation and initiative, making it more difficult for men to actively pursue job opportunities and apply for positions.
Additionally, the stigma surrounding mental health may lead men to hesitate in disclosing their challenges to potential employers or colleagues. In competitive job markets where numerous candidates vie for the same positions, concerns about potential discrimination based on mental health disclosures may further discourage openness.
Creating supportive environments is crucial for addressing men’s mental health needs throughout the job search process. Seeking and receiving support can help reduce stigma and provide valuable resources for managing mental health. It can also encourage men to engage in open discussions about their mental well-being, both personally and professionally.
Men’s mental health impact on the family
Mental health may also have an impact on a man’s emotional ability to support his family in the same manner, potentially straining relationships and family dynamics. Poor mental health can lead to limitations in providing support for one’s family that may include finances, household responsibilities and childcare.
Unemployment or being underemployed can lead to financial instability, and that can impact the ability to meet basic needs such as food and healthcare. It can also add stress to the working male parent due to the downsizing of a two-income household to a single-income household.
What if a man’s mental health is affected by being the sole provider and single parent after losing his job? One could argue that the situation of the single parent could be more dire. Why? Well, the burden of unemployment in a male single-parent household may be more challenging due to shouldering the sole breadwinner responsibility, limited support systems, time constraints, psychological impact, potential societal biases and long-term implications for financial security. However, what is also important to remember is whether a single parent or not, men’s mental health can still suffer.
The downside of these impacts is a cycle of stress, strain and potential deterioration of family relationships and overall well-being. It can create a challenging environment where family members feel the effects of financial instability and emotional distress. This underscores the importance of comprehensive support systems including:
- Mental health resources.
- Financial counseling.
- Community aid programs that help men and their families navigate through periods of unemployment or job search difficulties.
Dan’s reality of a job loss
It became clear to Roth in those challenging moments that traditional avenues were not yielding results. With financial constraints ruling out childcare options, Roth quickly realized he had to innovate. Balancing the demands of job hunting and parenthood, he had to find ways to generate income while being a full-time job seeker and full-time parent. He exemplified a deep commitment, responsibility and determination to provide for his loved ones.
Extended job loss before finding a new role can lead to:
- Strained mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress).
- Decreased self-esteem and self-confidence
These stressors are heavy burdens to carry and can lead to a strain on family dynamics. Dan experienced this as well as financial instability that many family providers are currently experiencing.
“Every day I felt like a failure, that I couldn’t do enough. The financial burden fell on my wife who deserves better. It is now nearly a year and a half after getting laid off. I’ve had less than 10 interviews. Getting past resume reviews is nearly impossible. I have tried everything I know how to do. My wife’s savings is nearly gone with no relief on the horizon. There is a very real potential for us to be homeless. I can’t do that to my family. I know what I bring to the table. I know I would be a game changer for an organization. I just don’t know why no one wants to hire me.”
Dan Roth
The timing of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month
Finding ways to make money made things difficult for Roth due to his children finishing school for the year and jobs being hard to find.
“I was asked to help run a master class which would bring in some money. In addition, I had deadlines to meet for my part-time job. My kids want attention and to do more than just sit around and watch TV. The house was a mess, I had to make meals for the week, and I have 2 dogs that need attention. I had to walk a tightrope for the morning, getting as much done as I could. Then I took them to the park, which I rarely do alone because while I have twins, one is autistic, and they have very different needs. Within 15 minutes, one of my girls was overstimulated so I took them on a short car ride to keep them out of the house before we got home. I then had to calm them down, feed them and do more work. While my head was down, one of them began throwing things out of the fridge,” Roth said.
Roth shared days like this make him question his capabilities as a father despite doing his absolute best. He also shared that days like this trigger his anxiety and make him depressed.
Regarding men’s mental health, he experienced some of the impacts not only from the job search but also the impacts on his family.
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Stress.
- Decreased self-confidence.
- Financial instability and strain.
He also stated that he has “practically no family here and a very small group of friends.” Support is equally pertinent during job loss, the job search and men’s mental health.
Let’s get Dan hired
Roth wants to set the right example for his children, which means he consistently advocates for mental health in some capacity. He is also a phenomenal professional with robust experience in global program management and recruitment. He is a human resources business partner and has made an impact on diversity hiring. As listed in Roth’s LinkedIn profile, he wants to add value by pouring his heart and soul into his next organization and by engaging his versatile skills in his next role.
Hire a man who will display patience, empathy, business acumen and a strategic mindset. Hire a man who supports mental health, in general, and specifically, men’s mental health as doing so can bring benefits to the company:
- Promotion of inclusivity and diversity.
- Improved employee well-being.
- Reduced stigma (by openly supporting men’s mental health).
- Enhancing organizational culture.
- Leadership and role modeling.
- Attraction of talent (demonstrating a commitment to men’s mental health can make a company more attractive to top talent seeking a supportive work environment.
- Community engagement.
Doing so aligns with modern workplace values of empathy, inclusivity and employee well-being. It can contribute to a healthier and more productive workplace environment while positioning the company as a leader in supporting mental health initiatives.
Dan Roth, a phenomenal professional, is one example of many men who fervently want to add value to your organization.
Featured image: Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash
Edited by: James Sutton and Kester Kafeero
