Pregledni rad
Men’s Mental Health – The Dangers of Self-Medication
Petar Bilić
Sažetak
Men’s mental health is often overlooked due to social pressures that promote emotional strength and self‑reliance, leading many to ignore symptoms. According to the Croatian Institute of Public Health, mental disorders affect 20% of the population, with men accounting for 56.8% of hospitalizations—most commonly due to alcohol use, schizophrenia, depression, and PTSD. High rates of alcoholism among middle‑aged men and the growing prevalence of problems among younger men are particularly concerning. Self‑medication—the use of alcohol, drugs, or other substances without supervision—worsens mental health more than ignoring the problem itself. It does not address underlying causes but instead creates addictions, increases suicidal risk, and contributes to comorbidities such as depression and alcohol dependence. The stigma that “men don’t cry,” rooted in family upbringing and toxic masculinity, suppresses emotional expression and prevents help‑seeking. Historically, crying was accepted (e.g., Achilles, the Bible). Neurobiology shows how alcohol alters dopamine, GABA, and the HPA axis, causing brain atrophy and rebound effects. Men with PTSD (44% of veterans) and anxiety disorders self‑medicate with alcohol more frequently (35.6% of GAP cases). AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, with 25% accuracy and hallucination risks) pose dangers when used without oversight, whereas online therapy demonstrates comparable effectiveness to face‑to‑face treatment. A multidisciplinary approach is needed: reducing stigma, increasing education, and developing hybrid models (AI + therapists) to prevent addiction and encourage help‑seeking.
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
345177
URI
Datum izdavanja:
26.2.2026.
Posjeta: 594 *