Mental Health & Education Outcomes for Boys & Young Men

In this article, we highlight the importance of adopting a policy approach to address restrictive gender role norms for boys and young men and by taking a policy and systems lens, we acknowledge the structural nature of limiting frameworks of masculine self-expression.

Abstract

Rigid adherence to traditional masculine norms typified by self-reliance and restrictive emotionality is associated with poor mental health and education outcomes for boys and young men. Existing approaches to encourage more flexible, positive expressions of masculinity have largely been focused on achieving individual behaviour change. Here we discuss the need for a policy lens on efforts to reduce the influence of restrictive gender role norms for boys and young men. Examples of current solutions span the sensitisation of mental health care for boys and men, alongside embedding of positive masculinity programming into educational policy. In all, applying a policy and systems lens when promoting positive masculinities does due justice to the structural nature of restrictive frameworks of masculine self-expression.

Read more (external link to Harvard Undergraduate Health Policy Review)

Article Information

Authors information and affiliations

Simon M Rice, (Orygen: Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia)

Zac Seidler, (Orygen: Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia)

Ray Swann (Crowther Centre, Brighton Grammar School, Australia)

Michael Wilson (Orygen: Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia)