The Impact of COVID-19 on Men’s Mental Health: The Psyche of the Male Student in a Rigorous Program
- EqualiSci Group
- Nov 26, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 5, 2020
Patricia Feng
COVID-19 has altered the way many of us handle and discuss our mental health, and this is especially true of a specific demographic of students; these students often face stigma that leads to unvocalized struggles.
Men’s mental health is often disregarded and placed under a blanket of silence that invites a cycle of harm. A survey distributed among the male population in the United States of America found that 66% of men rarely mention the toll that the global pandemic has taken on their mental health, and 48% have found difficulties seeking a doctor for non-COVID reasons.
Dr. Michael Young, a service chief at a psychiatric hospital in Maryland claims that, “The findings from the Cleveland Clinic survey that over three quarters of men are experiencing increased stress levels and nearly half are reporting that their mental health has worsened during the pandemic is consistent with what we are seeing in clinical practice.” This is important to note, that among a general population, the numbers that are facing this struggle are so high. Many of these individuals are focused on maintaining a strong foundation for their families and loved ones, thus feeling the need to remain silent about their own struggles. The stereotype that many Western cultures have embraced, of a singular-male breadwinner, is not only detrimental but unrealistic as it designates all men to a singular mold with the expectation that they all fit it.
This, paired with the increased rate of anxiety and depression rates found in many STEM students, is incredibly alarming (it should be noted that STEM remains a predominantly male field of study). A survey conducted at UC Berkeley between May and June amongst approximately four thousand STEM Ph.D. holders found that “40% [of those students] reported symptoms consistent with generalized anxiety disorder and 37% with major depressive disorder - jumps of 13 and 19 percentage points, respectively, compared with 2019.” This survey was then conducted again in the two following months, and the preliminary results remained consistent. Academically rigorous programs in their best seasons are still challenging and isolating, doing so during a global pandemic only exacerbates these feelings.
Awareness during this time is extremely important. As we enter into the last few weeks of a semester, with midterms and finals almost underway, it is important to understand that you are not alone, and that there are support systems within uOttawa and the greater community that can be of assistance. This month of November is dedicated to giving space to an otherwise undiscussed topic, so although often unaddressed, mental health in men and in STEM students is equally as critical as any other.
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