Many young men and women of our generation suffer from mental health issues ranging from anxiety and depression to difficulties with social acceptance. Although mental health issues are a universal problem among our country's youth, the situation is a little more complicated among young men. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Many men find it difficult to seek professional help. It's often very difficult for young men to talk about their mental health issues when they can't even admit that they're depressed. According to the American Psychological Association, more than six million young men in the United States suffer from some form of depression. Here in the United States, our culture fosters an environment of toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity discourages the open expression of emotions other than competitiveness, aggression, and anger among young men, while promoting behaviors considered an act of male dominance. The roots of this toxic masculinity begin when boys are young, as they are unconsciously conditioned to believe in their own dominance when those who show emotion are seen as weak. I am sure everyone is very familiar with some of the most famous mantras. of toxic masculinity such as: “Be a man and get over it”, “Man up” and “Don’t be a baby”. Such sayings exist in almost every corner of American culture, from television and movies to newspaper headlines. You may have used one of these expressions yourself at some point. Imagine yourself in the position of a boy in his youth, already struggling with the physical and emotional changes that come with growing up. Imagine you fell off your bike or experienced your first heartbreak and instead of being asked what's wrong and if you're okay, you're told to "Be a man!" ". When emotions are pushed aside and outdated gender roles are conditioned into our young boys, they learn to process their emotions negatively and suppress them. Over time, this can lead to severe depression. When these conditioned youth grow up and have children of their own, they pass on these behaviors almost unknowingly by being a role model for their acquired toxic masculinity. This continues to fuel the cycle of outdated gender roles that plague our country’s youth. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized Essay We need to change the way we view depression in men. To help our young men, we must erase outdated gender norms that lead men to not manage their emotions. As a society, we must unanimously accept that the expression of emotions is not defined by gender, but by a trait shared by all humanity. We can change the cycle of toxic masculinity in our country by paying more attention to our youth and adopting behaviors that encourage sharing feelings and emotions openly and without judgment. Once we redefine the outdated gender roles that shape our nation, we can truly bring about change that will affect not only mental health, but almost every facet of American life..