12/09/2025
If you’ve ever been told to “toughen up,” then that person was probably taught the same thing.
But here’s the kicker:
“This ‘tough guy’ act can leave you feeling utterly alone… alone with the terror that maybe your mental health will get worse.” (p. 16)
The “toughen up” mindset has trained an entire generation to bottle things up — to suffer in silence.
The result?
Young men who are terrified of their own feelings.
Who think asking for help makes them weak.
Who’d rather break down in private than speak up in public.
And it’s not their fault.
But now you have the opportunity to do something different.
📍This week’s move:
Pick a moment this week to say to someone, “Hey — it’s okay to feel a bit off. Doesn’t mean anything’s wrong with you.”
It doesn’t need a deep conversation, just a signal to someone that it’s safe to drop the mask for a moment.
You don’t have to have all the answers. Just be a safe place to land.
Dr. Mike Martin
Men’s Mental Health Psychologist
