Marcus and Esme discuss issues impacting men’s mental health. And, while Marcus acknowledges that certain behaviors and traits associated with masculinity do appear to have an impact, he reveals that he doesn’t think the term “toxic masculinity” is very helpful. His rationale and his alternative solution are revealed in the couple’s most glorious rabbit hole to date (discussions about the magic of Tom Jones excepted, of course).
Marcus and Esme also explore some of the ways in which the health care and mental health industries are struggling to meet men’s needs. And finally, Marcus discusses how the classic Akira Kurosawa film Seven Samurai reveals that the essence of being a real man is not giving a s*** about what it means to be a real man.
Trigger warning: This episode contains references to suicide. Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please know that hope and help is available. Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
- Call or text 988
- Chat at 988lifeline.org
Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365. Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org
Visit our website: crazytogetherpod.com
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Sources for this episode include:
- Höhn A, et al. “Do men avoid seeking medical advice?” J Epidemiol Community Health. 2020 Jun;74(7):573-579. doi: 10.1136/jech-2019-213435. Epub 2020 Apr 17. PMID: 32303595; PMCID: PMC7337231. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7337231/#:~:text=Most%20quantitative%20research%20documenting%20patterns,for%20childbearing%20and%20birth%20control
- Elder, Keith, and Derek M Griffith. “Men's Health: Beyond Masculinity.” American journal of public health vol. 106,7 (2016): 1157. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303237 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4984782/
- National Institute of Mental Health. "Mental Illness." National Institute of Mental Health, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2025. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
- Méndez-Bustos, Pablo et al. “Effectiveness of Psychotherapy on Suicidal Risk: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 10 277. 19 Feb. 2019, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00277 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6389707/#:~:text=Despite%20the%20between%2Dstudy%20heterogeneity,and%20suicide%20attempts%20(37.5%25).
- National Institute of Mental Health. "Suicide." National Institute of Mental Health, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2025. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide
- Griffith, Derek M., Ayo Ogunbiyi, and Emily Jaeger. "Men and Mental Health: What are we missing?" AAMC, 2 Apr. 2024, https://www.aamc.org/news/men-an
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