In the UK, 1 in 4 people experience mental illness each year. With only 36% of referrals for psychological therapies being for men, it’s important to understand not only the gender disparity in accessing healthcare for mental health issues but what could be influencing mental illness in the first place so that interventions can be put in place by healthcare providers.

Recent research conducted by Rare: Group found that 1 in 8 men in the UK have either depression or anxiety. This is met with 1 in 5 who report that they have a negative attitude towards their appearance and 1 in 5 who report that they rate their mental wellbeing as poor, suggesting a link between appearance and wellbeing in men. This link is further amplified by investigating factors of influence toward one’s own appearance.

Source: Rare: Group Adults 16+ in the UK (N=3,578). Data collected 14th - 25th April 2022. Please indicate to what extent you feel each of the following factors impact your attitude to your own appearance. (N=3,578) UK Men (N=1,744).

What is driving the link between appearance and mental ill health?

According to recent research undertaken by Rare: Group, 46% of men in the UK report that what family and friends say about the way they look impacts their attitude towards their own appearance. This is met with research conducted by CALM, which found that 35% of men feel unhappy with how they look and 48% reporting that they have struggled with their mental health because of it.

Another driving factor behind the negative self-perception may be influenced by remote working, as we now conduct our meetings via video calls. In fact, Rare: Group found that 49% of men in the UK report that seeing their reflection in video calls or photographs is impacting their attitude towards their appearance.

With 86% of young men reporting that they face body shaming and pressures to look a certain way, it is important that men feel they are represented in advertising as opposed to advertising someone they do not relate to or does not look like them. This is supported by CALM, who found that 61% of young men feel that brands have a responsibility in shaping modern masculinity.

How brands are tackling negative stereotypes around mental health in men

There are some brands that have taken this responsibility in their stride. Gymshark, a popular gym wear brand, opened up a barbers called Deload, after finding that men are more likely to talk about their mental health and stress with their barbers. This highlights the link between appearance and mental health. The pop-up barbers was a huge success and also helps us to understand that brands that offer a change in appearance could be influential in reducing the stigma associated with mental illness in men.

Furthermore, Nivea for Men recently launched their strength in numbers campaign in partnership with Liverpool Football Club and Talk Club, encouraging men to talk together in groups and more often. They share pointers around mental fitness and how to approach conversations around mental health to help men better support one another.

Although it is clear that a gender disparity exists for access to mental health support, there are some companies who are tackling this issue head on. Community interest company, ManHealth, aims to support men in communities across Northumberland and County Durham through peer support groups, with the aim to indirectly support services, such as the NHS, and the wider community. Having an organisation that is offering tailored support not only is beneficial but it also helps break down barriers around accessing support.

Final Thoughts

Men’s mental health needs more attention. It is important to understand the potential driving forces behind negative self-perception and mental ill health, in order to tackle these issues. Rare: Group has found a negative attitude towards one's own appearance is impacting the mental health of men with social media being a driving factor of this. Although there are some brands and businesses working towards better representation, there is more that can be done from brands and healthcare alike to help change the negative stereotypes surrounding male images presented in the media.

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