Supporting Men’s Mental Health and Wellbeing at Work

Mental health is a critical issue that affects people no matter their gender, geographical location, profession, or socioeconomic status. Still, men often face unique challenges when it comes to seeking support and treatment. Studies show that men are less likely to talk about their mental health struggles. Additionally, they are less inclined to seek professional help compared to women, with the suicide rate for men being almost four times higher than for women in the United States.

This is especially concerning in male-dominated industries such as maritime, manufacturing, construction, and logistics, where the predominantly male workforces face unique schedules, environments, and job demands that can significantly impact their wellbeing. For example, the construction industry has a suicide rate 3-4 times higher than the national average.

Offshore workers, who are predominantly male, also experience elevated rates of substance abuse, depression, and suicidal ideation due to the isolated and high-stress nature of their work. Addressing men’s mental health in these industries is crucial in safeguarding the wellbeing of employees as well as an organization's Duty of Care responsibilities.

By destigmatising mental health discussions and aligning workplace policies and support systems with the unique needs of male employees, companies can enhance engagement, productivity, and overall mental health.

Aligning Workplace Practices with Men’s Hormonal Rhythms

Men experience daily fluctuations in testosterone levels, which influence their energy, mood, focus, and stress management. This 24-hour cycle, known as the diurnal rhythm, typically peaks in the morning and dips around midday, stabilizing in the afternoon before declining in the evening. Employers can better support their male employees’ mental health by tailoring workplace practices to these natural ebbs and flows.

Morning Boost: Best Practices for Managing Men’s Energy Levels (6am - 10am):

• Encourage early-bird schedules
• Provide adjustable desks, treadmill workstations, or other ergonomic equipment
• Offer on-site fitness facilities, subsidised gym memberships, or group exercise classes

Midday Dip (12pm - 2pm):

• Build in mandatory lunch breaks and encourage employees to step away from their workplaces
• Provide healthy, protein-rich meal and snack options
• Designate quiet zones or relaxation rooms for recharging

Afternoon Stability: Keeping Men Engaged and Focused at Work (3pm - 6pm):

• Schedule collaborative activities, meetings, and brainstorming sessions
• Offer optional exercise breaks
• Provide healthy snacks and hydration stations.

Evening Wind-Down (8pm - 10pm):

• Encourage a healthy work-life balance and educate on sleep hygiene
• Provide access to on-site counselling services and mental health resources.

Tailored Mental Health Strategies for Male-Dominated Industries

Maritime/Offshore:

• Establish on-site fitness facilities and outdoor recreation areas on ships or offshore platforms
• Schedule more physically demanding tasks for the morning
• Train supervisors in mental health first aid and partner with digital health providers for remote counselling.

Manufacturing, Logistics, Construction:

• Build on-site gyms or sponsor team sports leagues
• Ensure healthy, high-protein meals and snacks are available
• Implement mental health awareness training for frontline supervisors
• Arrange for counselling services that cater to irregular hours and geographic dispersion.

Success Stories: How Mental Health Programs are Boosting Engagement and Productivity

Drawing from our experience in supporting organizations implement these strategies across various sectors, we observed significant improvements. For instance, an international technology sector organization, after a tragic workplace incident exposed major gaps in handling post-traumatic events, introduced a mental health response training program. This initiative led to a 35% increase in employee engagement and a stronger sense of workplace connection.

Similarly, a mining organization, facing challenges such as heightened security measures, long work rotations away from family, restricted movement, and interpersonal conflicts due to close living conditions, successfully implemented a tailored, multilevel mental health support program with an outstanding 77% utilisation rate, compared to their previous Employee Assistance Program (EAP) usage of 10%.

Forward-thinking organizations are making employee mental health a strategic priority—reaping the rewards of a healthier, more productive, and mentally resilient workforce. Investing in such initiatives is not just about wellbeing; it’s an essential aspect of an organization’s Duty of Care responsibilities, akin to safety and security measures. By adjusting workplace health and wellbeing policies, organizations can improve individual wellbeing and bolster overall competitiveness through enhanced employee engagement, resilience, and performance. These strategies should be designed to accommodate the diverse needs of the workforce, ensuring that all employees, benefit from a supportive environment. Join the discussion on Men's Mental Health and Wellbeing with our subject matter experts here.

For insights on creating inclusive workplace health programs, see also our article on supporting women in menopause. To learn more about how organizations can support employees with chronic illnesses, read our blog on the connection between mental health and chronic illness.

1. Suicide by occupation, England: 2011 to 2015: Analysis of deaths from suicide in different occupational groups for people aged 20 to 64 years, based on deaths registered in England between 2011 and 2015.
2. Serum testosterone concentrations during a 24-h period, demonstrating that young men (23–48 years old) exhibit a distinct diurnal variation that is greatly attenuated in old men (58–82 years-old).