Tuan Anh, a 36-year-old middle manager for a service company living in Hoan Kiem district, shared his exhaustion on social media about the pressures of work and family only to be gossiped about as being “soft and useless.” Despite working long hours from 5 a.m. to midnight, Tuan Anh has been under intense stress for years, pushing himself to make money to pay off his parents’ debt, buy a house, a car, and send his children to private school.
However, in recent years, Tuan Anh’s income has decreased, affecting his ability to meet financial obligations. He even had to borrow money from friends to pay for his children’s education. This financial pressure led to arguments with his wife about finances, causing him to break down in tears. His wife expressed discriminatory attitudes by criticizing him for showing weakness.
Struggling to cope with his emotions, Tuan Anh often turned to social media to share his feelings. However, the response he received from friends telling him to be strong and solve his problems on his own only made him feel more isolated. Feeling silenced and judged, Tuan Anh began to withdraw, becoming quiet and angry with poor appetite and insomnia.
After seeking help at Mai Huong Psychiatric Hospital, Tuan Anh was diagnosed with mild anxiety-depressive disorder by Dr. Tran Thi Hong Thu, the Deputy Director. Dr. Thu also shared the case of a business director who hid his depression for fear of damaging his strong masculine image. This fear of being perceived as weak and needing help prevents many men from seeking treatment for mental health issues.
Dr. Thu emphasized that the pressure to uphold a strong masculine image can have serious consequences on men’s mental health. Men often feel ashamed and hesitant to seek help due to societal stigma surrounding mental health issues among men
