Where Have All the Men Gone? The Urgent Case for Male Mental Health Professionals

Back in November 2024, I reviewed the book Of Boys and Men by Richard V. Reeves. He studies the reasons men are falling behind women with respect to education, and he emphasizes the need for men to begin transitioning into fields traditionally dominated by women—what he calls HEAL jobs (health, education, administration, and literacy).

Pamela Paul, a journalist for The Wall Street Journal, wrote a piece about the absence of male psychologists and the implications for boys and men.

In the piece, she highlighted that psychology was originally male-dominated and focused on issues like aggression, trauma, and conflict. As more women entered the field—eventually becoming the majority—the focus expanded to include topics like relationships, meaning, and well-being, which is generally seen as a positive development. However, this shift has also coincided with less attention to issues specifically affecting boys and men.

Today, men are underrepresented in mental health professions, and some experts argue this comes at a critical time.

In the U.S., men account for only 18% of social workers and 20% of psychologists, down from 38% and 68% in 1968, respectively, according to the American Institute of Boys and Men (AIBM)1, a research and advocacy organization founded in 2023. According to the CareerExplorer website, the 2026 numbers are 19% for social workers2 and 21% for clinical psychologists3.

The article explains that many men are struggling—with rising suicide rates, academic decline among boys, workplace challenges, and social isolation—yet there is relatively little focus on how to help them. Some critics say the field often approaches men from a “deficit perspective,” emphasizing what’s wrong with them rather than understanding their differences.

AIBM reported that men are four times more likely to die by suicide than women, and that there was an 8% increase in the suicide rate among young men aged 15 to 24 from 2020 to 20214. There were no changes in the suicide rate among males in 2023 (latest data). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), males make up about 50% of the population but account for nearly 80% of suicides5.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Suicide Data and Statistics

The article suggests that although a therapist’s gender doesn’t usually determine outcomes, some men feel more comfortable opening up to male therapists, especially when discussing sensitive or personal topics. This is particularly true for men in traditionally masculine professions like the military or emergency services. As a retired Army officer, I can attest to this, and I believe it is partly due to how the military has historically viewed mental health as a sign of weakness. The military has improved significantly, but it still has a long way to go. This aligns with what the article identified: cultural expectations around masculinity, discomfort with vulnerability, and a lack of male representation in the field can make it harder for men to engage in mental health care.

After reading Of Boys and Men and the Wall Street Journal article, I began to wonder: why don’t more men pursue careers in mental health professions?

After doing some research, various sources identified the following as possible reasons why fewer men are entering fields like social work and psychology:

  1. Cultural expectations about masculinity. From an early age, many men are steered away from “helping professions,” which society has traditionally labeled as feminine.
  2. Lower pay and prestige. Fields like social work and counseling tend to pay less than careers many men are encouraged to pursue such as engineering, business, and tech.
  3. Lack of representation and role models.
  4. Perception of bias or not feeling welcome. Some male students report feeling out of place in training programs or that men’s issues are minimized in coursework.
  5. Different communication and emotional norms. On average, men are less expressive about emotions. That can make careers centered on emotional processing and verbal communication feel less intuitive or appealing.
  6. Alternative career paths for similar motivations. Men who want to “help” others may look toward fields seen as more traditionally masculine—like the military, law enforcement, coaching, or firefighting—rather than therapy or social work.

When did the shift happen? The consensus is that the key shift began in the 1960s as women started attending college and graduate school in large numbers. At the same time, psychology itself began to change—from a focus on behaviorism, pathology, and experimental research (traditionally dominated by men) to counseling, therapy, and human development, which aligned more with interests traditionally encouraged in women.

It was particularly interesting to read this article in the context of today’s environment, where some public figures seem intent on projecting exaggerated versions of masculinity. In the United States, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services come to mind. You see it in narratives around women in combat or in performative displays meant to signal toughness—like working out in the gym shirtless and in jeans—which bring to mind images of Vladimir Putin riding shirtless on a horse, or the larger-than-life persona of Fabio Lanzoni in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

At the same time, the rise of the manosphere is concerning. I consider it dangerous, as it may deepen the challenges already faced by boys and men rather than help solve them. It certainly won’t encourage more men to enter the mental health professions—fields where they are clearly needed.

If there’s any doubt, just look at how often high-profile men—who once projected invulnerability—seek professional help after personal or moral crises, even if they were previously dismissive of mental health services. That pattern alone shows the importance of accessible and relatable mental health support.

Men don’t need to do anything extraordinary to prove their manhood. Those who choose to pursue careers as psychologists, social workers, or in any mental health–related field are already providing a great service to humanity—and proving their strength through actions, not words.

  1. https://aibm.org/research/men-in-social-work-psychology/ ↩︎
  2. https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/social-worker/demographics/ ↩︎
  3. https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/clinical-psychologist/demographics/ ↩︎
  4. https://aibm.org/why-we-exist/focus-areas/mental-health/ ↩︎
  5. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html ↩︎

42 thoughts on “Where Have All the Men Gone? The Urgent Case for Male Mental Health Professionals”

  1. Wondering if you happen to have seen the show “Shrinking” on Apple+ (starring Harrison Ford). It’s about a group of therapists. Ford plays a therapist and there’s another male therapist as a main character, plus many male patients, including one ex-military main character. It’s funny, but they also address some real issues. We like it a lot!

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  2. This is a very thoughtful post and a great question. Things have dropped off tremendously, in terms of the men nowadays. I work at a pharmacy and many men come through, without any money to pick up medicine for their children. And they will call their girlfriends to cash app them $5! I just don’t get it. The dating pool is in deeeeepppp trouble! 😔

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    1. Wow, that’s a new one to me. Pretty sad indeed. I remember during the COVID-19 pandemic reading reports of men struggling and women being forced to pick up the slack. Women often appeared more mentally resilient and were able to focus on taking care of the family.

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  3. Such an important post, Edward. I saw the shift and decline during my graduate school years…fewer and fewer male classmates and future mental health providers. As you suggest, the reasons are layered and complex with fewer “in the field” providing support when the rise of toxic masculinity seems pervasive. As always…I appreciate your deep regard for what matters most. Highlighting important issues and concerns with care and thoughtfulness. Thank you. 💝

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    1. You’re very welcome, and thank you for sharing your experience, Vicki. It’s always valuable to hear from someone in the field. I’m glad to share what I find along the way and contribute, even in a small way, to advancing the cause.

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  4. There’s a component of “force” and “emotionless” associated with men and manhood that keeps being cultivated within society up to these days, no matter what studies and numbers reveal. I can’t help but think that this is closely related to the impressive and alarming male suicide rates. Strangely, in such an “advanced” society, outdated stigmas keep prevailing, and very little is done to turn them around. Men are naturally caring if they are not “trained” otherwise. This post is a relevant call of attention for a colossal issue that keeps weakening the structure of society in general and the well-being and recognition of men’s value beyond manhood-created standards in particular. A very important share, Edward! Thank you for bringing it to light here! Light and blessings your way, today and always, my friend! ✨🙏🍀

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    1. Thank you, Susana. You’re absolutely right about that persistent “force” that continues to push some men into believing the old ways were better. That mentality keeps men stuck, and the consequences are palpable, as reflected in the statistics, which show not only the gender gap in the mental health profession but also the troubling rise in suicide rates.

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  5. I have never thought of this imbalance before – in Australia, we have a shortage of mental health workers (irrespective of gender). It’s always so sad to see statistics on suicide… here’s to a world where we need less counsellors, but until then, as you said, many thanks to those who make helping others their purpose, xx

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    1. Thank you, Linda. A world where less support in this area is needed is a wonderful goal. There’s still much work to be done to get there, and we’re truly grateful for those taking on this important and difficult task.

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  6. Interesting article. I worked for 30 years as a counselor in a nonprofit agency where a clear majority of counselors were women. The doctors who worked with us were men. CEOs and department heads in the agency were about 50% men, though the current CEO is a Black woman who’s been in the position a long time. There were times when working in the nonprofit agency (primarily as an addictions specialist) that I had the thought: Most of the men I know would not put up with what I put up with, (thinking about the expectation to be nurturing, diplomatic, working long hours, and all the challenges that addiction brings…) I realize that thinking may be considered inappropriate, but I it was real and I remember thinking that more than once. Maybe it’s because most men are taught differently by our culture. Maybe most men are not taught to value the skills of nurturing, etc. Reading this post, I also thought about teachers….

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    1. Thank you for sharing your experience, JoAnna. I think we all have those thoughts at some point in our lives, it’s just part of the culture. You’re right, teachers are part of that equation as well, and there are definitely more female teachers than male. The nurturing aspect is an interesting one, and I think men need to learn how to be more nurturing. A lack of nurturing can be a challenge in parenting and can especially affect single fathers, who may need a crash course if they want to succeed.

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  7. A timely and important piece. You’ve highlighted a reality that often goes unnoticed—many men are struggling in silence, and the absence of male mental health professionals only deepens that gap. The point about relatability and the need for safe spaces where men can open up without judgment is especially powerful. This isn’t just about representation; it’s about access, trust, and saving lives. Thought-provoking and necessary—thank you for bringing attention to an issue that deserves far more conversation.👍

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        1. Absolutely, but I always thought that only occurred when the number of men and women was similar. It doesn’t seem to make sense if women are the majority, unless the men are superstars, then it might happen. I guess I was wrong. Thank you for answering my question.

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  9. Those are interesting stats. I trained as a psychiatric nurse in the early 70’s. I checked my graduation group photo because I was sure that males made up almost half of our class. I was very wrong. 6 males out of a class of 30. I worked with a lot of male social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and psych nurses in the early years of my career (before I transitioned to medical nursing), but when I look back now, I know that the mental health area was definitely dominated by women. Your post was definitely an eye opener, Edward.

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    1. Thank you, Terry, for providing that information. I knew there was a gap, but I wasn’t expecting such a large difference until I read the article and reviewed some of the material for this post. I agree with you, it’s definitely an eye opener.

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  10. A very thought-provoking discussion, Edward. What has become clear to me in the Trump era is that the root causes of toxic masculinity need to be researched and addressed with appropriate action. services, and intervention before more boys grow into predatory sadists.

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    1. I agree. There is a movement, and they’re using podcasts and other platforms to spread the wrong message about masculinity. They’re reaching thousands, if not millions, of men, which is very dangerous in the current environment. We’ll probably see the effects 10 or 15 years from now, so I hope we have professionals in place to deal with it. Thank you, Liz.

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  11. I have to respectfully disagree with the book you read and the WSJ. I worked in mental health for 15 years and in nursing over 20 years. Most of our psychiatrists and psychologists were male. We most definitely had male nurses and techs. Males are highly prized because of their physical and mental strength and ability to relate to difficult patients. Unless the situation has changed since 2021, when I retired, then I doubt the accuracy of these sources. Both the medical and mental health fields have been losing workers (male and female) due to stress, overwork, being unappreciated by their employers, and insufficient funding. COVID drove a lot of people out. Social workers and therapists are almost worthless when it comes to dealing with difficult patients. They aren’t trained for that. They always called security or the police or asked me to intervene if I was working. As far as mental health patients, males will open up if they are approached in the proper way. Not all psychologists/psychiatrists/therapists are equal in their people skills. RESPECT is the key word.

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    1. Since the statistics are a nationwide average, I’m sure the number of males will vary. Maybe in the state or states where you worked, the numbers were higher. The hospital we go to has 19 psychologists, 7 of whom are male, which is about 36%. I agree that respect is key, and in that kind of environment, people are more willing to open up about their problems.

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  12. Insightful and well-researched review, Edward. Praying that more men feel encouraged and supported to step into these roles, and that the stigma around seeking help continues to fade.

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  13. So interesting Edward! I did not know this! It’s surprising to me that there are less men in social worker/psychology roles now than in the 60’s because back then macho-ism (i feel like) way more dominated than it does today….there’s so much more awareness now around mental health and specifically men’s mental health. (But obviously not enough), I’m sure in the 60’s it was absolutely non-existent.

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    1. Thank you, CJ. Yeah, I was kind of surprised. I mean, I knew there were more females than males, but the gap is significant. From what you said, you would think the gap should be closing, but I guess the stigma is still there, and it will take a lot of education to close it. I think nurses and teachers face the same problem.

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    1. You’re very welcome. I knew there were more females than males, but I didn’t realize the extent of that gap until I read the article. It’s significant, but also a great opportunity for those who aren’t sure what career to pursue.

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