Breaking the stigma: Decatur mental health professional encourages men to seek support

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – “Man up.” “Boys don’t cry.” “Be strong.”For some men, messages like these can make it harder to reach out when they need support, according to Chris Neal with Heritage Behavioral Health.Neal said expectations about masculinity can shape how young men understand strength — and affect their mental health.“I think sometimes, young men grow up thinking that being aggressive means you’re strong,” Neal said.

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“And that infiltrates our mental health quite a bit.”A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that 16.9% of women and 10.9% of men in the United States received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional in the past 12 months, based on 2024 data. The survey shows a difference in treatment use, but does not establish why that difference exists.

Stigma is not the only barrier to care. Cost, insurance and limited resources in rural communities can also make it difficult to find help.Neal said some therapists may be able to work with patien