Some say men have a habit of refusing to ask for help, especially when it comes to confronting medical or mental health issues they may be experiencing.
Editor’s note: This commentary is provided by the Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI) of Florida A&M University.“Men don't want to seek any type of medical support, whether it be mental health or physical health. A lot of studies and surveys show that men are afraid; that there is some sort of belief that they are weak if they go to the doctor,” says Dr. Delvena Thomas, a board-certified psychiatrist and qualified medical marijuana physician based in Fort Lauderdale.
Changing this potentially detrimental behavior among men is a long-term project that starts with parenting, says Dr. Michael Railey Sr., a psychologist with a private practice based in Tallahassee.
When it comes to men taking care of their mental health, Dr. Thomas advises them to be self-aware of signs of behavioral changes that could warn of impending psychological distress.
“Anything that's different than their usual routine is typically a red flag. Maybe they're eating a lot more or they're eating a lot less than they usually do. They’re having difficulty falling asleep. They might appear sad. Their libido decreases. That is a telltale sign of depression in men,” she says.
Dr. Thomas describes medical cannabis as a drug of limited use in her psychiatric practice, mostly helping patients cope with anxieties and overcome sleep disorders. But she says it’s safer than some pharmaceuticals prescribed to treat the same issues.
Both she and Dr. Railey strongly warn against self-medicating with non-medical marijuana. With its higher THC levels, recreational marijuana “can cause latent psychotic features to come to the surface really quickly,” says Dr. Railey.
A recent National Institutes of Health report linked “cannabis use disorder” to an increased risk of schizophrenia, especially in young men.
Anyone in a state of psychological distress should seek professional help, says Dr. Thomas, who recommends starting with a primary care physician for guidance. Other resources to consider are healthcare insurers’ lists of in-network mental health practitioners, a community mental health center or calling the free 211 referral service.
Visit https://bit.ly/CannabisAndMensMentalHealth to watch MMERI’s Conversations on Cannabis Virtual Forum featuring Dr. Delvena Thomas, a Board-certified psychiatrist and qualified medical marijuana physician based in Fort Lauderdale, and Dr. Mike Railey, a licensed psychologist based in Tallahassee discussing how cannabis use can impact a man’s mental health.
