Worldwide, on average, men die 5 years before women. Men account for a high rate of 69% suicide.
To better understand these statistics, OZiva, India’s leading India-based company that guarantees hygiene and plant-based diets, is conducting a comprehensive survey to assess men’s health and similar outlook in the country.
The study was targeted at more than 1,200 respondents from across the country, including men and women. Research shows that there are many misconceptions about men’s physical and mental health. 51% of men believe that ‘feeling fit and healthy means being healthy.
Most surprisingly, men (53 percent) believe they are expected to be stronger and healthier than women. And these public expectations are also being set as 68% of women also believe that men are expected to be mentally and physically strong.
Men seem to ignore the importance of good mental health and have little knowledge of its importance and impact on daily life and overall health. Seventy percent of men say that they feel so sad or lonely that it affects their work and relationships.
Sadly more than 80% of them feel mentally healthy means going to a psychiatrist or taking medication. Although mental health professionals insist on free speech and assistance, this has been difficult for men as many men admit to being judged and ridiculed for expressing their feelings openly.
Important note from men’s responses:
• 79% of men are very concerned about physical health yet have a limited understanding of what it means to ‘be healthy’ most of them consider feeling fit as healthy.
• 60% of men have never thought about mental health. And 40% of women admit that they feel that men are less likely to feel emotionally weak, depressed, and so on.
• 27% of men feel ashamed or judged for speaking openly about mental and physical health. 38% of women agree that they judge men by expressing their feelings as crying.
• 33% of men have never talked about mental health to anyone.
Commenting on the study, Aarti Gill, founder of OZiva, said, “When we spoke to a few of our clients, we realized that there was a big difference in how ‘health’ is perceived between men and women. Mental and physical health should not be segregated by gender as this is something that should be important to everyone.
“These findings underscore the fact that men’s health needs to be addressed. At OZiva, we have always tried to initiate conversations, educate and empower people to have a better life. We aim to make health more inclusive so that men and women can live a full life,”said Gill.
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