Memes

Have you tried bitching him out about "emotional labor?" Or actively pestering him to talk about his feelings because YOU'RE feeling insecure about something...only to use his response as gossip fodder or better yet ammunition in an argument later on? NO NO! Better! Sever any relationship or friendship with him instant he genuinely decides to confide in you, throwing into sharp relief the callous disregard you actually hold him in by kicking him while he's down. These'll have a fantastic impact on both his mental health and his overall attitudes to women as a political cohort.

The construction worker who answers "How are ya?" with "Living the dream, one nightmare at a time" is willing and able to express his feelings. His job is difficult, dangerous and painful, the pay is stagnant and prices of literally everything are only increasing, one mistake with a circular saw and he'll never work again, his boss is a total waste of cunt, his customers are shithead Karens and his coworkers are all cooking in the same crucible. His father and grandfather supported families single-handedly doing this very job, meanwhile he's not making ends meet as a bachelor. And you're going to flippantly tell him to go to therapy. As if it's his feelings that are the actual problem here. His feelings are perfectly calibrated and functioning normally. The fact that you are at a loss to say or do anything that is actually helpful is more of a reflection on you.

Haha sorry in advance for a long response, I love psychology and am a strong male mental health advocate :) TL;DR: I don't have the answers, its getting better societally but that doesn't solve it at an individual level, I believe loneliness and being heard are major contributing factors.

I'm hard pressed to give you a good answer on that. I think it's more socially acceptable for men to have feelings, but maybe it's hard for the crop of men 30+ to understand that due to their upbringing, and seek help (it's getting much better for Gen Z, I understand). So maybe the options are there, but the "man up" mindset persists?

There may also be an individual element to it - the willingness to learn about our own feelings after decades of "man up" can be perplexing at best (I've been blessed with some wonderful women in my life and it is still in my blindspot all the time). I understand there are also many women that expect their men to "man up", not to say that's the norm though.

I don't have a good answer for you on the last point either. I think go to therapy is great, but i find that being male and our problems can be wildly isolating and lonely experiences - being told to go to therapy is kind of "take your feelings over there". At the same time, until men are able to build healthier communication with their loved ones, I think it won't be solved (which is where therapy does help).