When Ravi lost his job during the pandemic, he felt like the ground beneath him had disappeared. He was the eldest son — the “pillar” of the family. He didn’t cry. He didn’t talk. He just stopped eating, started drinking, and eventually, one night, locked himself in his room for hours. His younger brother, worried, broke the door — and found Ravi sobbing on the floor, broken not just by unemployment, but by the weight of expectations.

This is the story of countless Indian men — raised to be strong, never soft.

In Indian society, men are told from childhood:

“Ladke rote nahi.” (Boys don’t cry.)
“Be a man.”
“Don’t show weakness.”

But emotions don’t disappear — they bury themselves inside the body and mind. Over time, this creates toxic silence, where men struggle alone through depression, anxiety, trauma, and stress.

What Mental Health in Men Often Looks Like:

Sudden anger or outbursts

Emotional shutdown or detachment

Excessive drinking or substance use

Workaholism as a form of escape

Suicidal thoughts masked as reckless behavior

Most men don’t even recognize these as symptoms of mental health issues — they call it pressure, or worse, weakness.

Why Men Stay Silent

Social stigma: “He couldn’t handle it” becomes a label.

Cultural conditioning: Emotions are “feminine.”

Fear of judgment: Seen as unreliable or unstable.

Lack of support systems: Fewer safe spaces for men to open up.

The Way Forward

Normalize emotional conversations at home and school.

Create support groups specifically for male mental health.

Encourage therapy for men — not after breakdown, but before.

Highlight male role models who speak about vulnerability.

Ravi now attends weekly therapy and recently said to a friend, “Crying didn’t make me weak — hiding did.”

It’s time we rewrite the script of masculinity. Real men do cry. Real men ask for help. Real men heal — and help others do the same.