“Traditional masculine ideology” harms men, according to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) first-ever guidelines for therapists working with men and boys. The claim has drawn criticism from right-wing pundits as well as other psychologists who worry that this attitude will deter men from seeking the mental health support they need.
And it is clear that men need more support. Men are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than women, yet are significantly less likely to seek therapy. Men were hit harder by the recession, and are at the center of a new cultural conversation that’s been sparked by the #MeToo movement.
The APA first decided to create guidelines for working with men in 2005, according to APA chief of...