Sam* realized that he didn’t feel as physically strong as he had in the past and decided to do something about it. He decided he needed to work out consistently and signed up for a membership with a local gym. As he went consistently, he was happy to share with his friends and family the effort he was putting into his physical health. Their reaction to this news helped. So many encouraged him and even said they were proud of him, which made him want to continue.
A year later, Sam was continuing on his journey to improving his life and noticed that sometimes he wished he had some support processing all of the things he is responsible for at work and at home. So, he made another healthy decision.
Sam started seeing a counselor.
For some reason, he felt a little less comfortable telling friends and family that he was seeking mental health support.
He decided to push through the discomfort and told those close to him that he was excited to work on his mental health and had started going to counseling. Their responses were vastly different. Instead of encouragement, people seemed concerned.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you okay?"
"Did you get diagnosed with something?"
Their reaction caught Sam off guard. He wasn't experiencing a mental disorder. He wasn't in crisis. He was simply taking care of his mental health. No one wondered if he had a disease or illness when he worked on his physical health.
Why were the responses so different for Sam?
Unlike physical health, we have socially connected mental health with mental disorder. The reality is different. Physical and mental health both require maintenance and effort. Men tend to struggle most with recognizing this truth.
No one would ever expect to develop strong muscles or reach their fitness goal without working on their physical health, but it is common for men to expect to maintain their mental health by simply ignoring it.
Mental health is not only just as important but also directly impacts physical health and cannot be separated from each other. Improving our physical health improves our mental health and vice versa. When we work out consistently, our bodies release feel-good hormones and stress relief, providing more mental clarity and peace.
Similarly, when we improve our mental health, we reduce the impact of stress on our bodies. We reduce risk of heart disease and lower cortisol levels in the body when mental health is improved (“How Your Mental Health Affects Your Physical Health—and Why That Matters at Work”).
As we work to reduce the stigma around “mental health” and counseling, we highlight the facts — that mental health plays a vital role in overall health, it is not about disorder or dysfunction it is simply health.
Men often carry a lot, but everyone needs a safe place to release what is weighing on them.
There are many ways to work on self-improving mental health:
Mental and physical health are not mutually exclusive — they are interrelated aspects of overall health that deserve care and often require maintenance.
Suicide is a leading cause of death for men under 50 (Anxiety & Depression Association of America). A shift in perspective and making simple changes can help improve the mental health and outcomes for so many men.
Union EAP is available 24/7/365 via call or text at 855-500-1915 to support members and their families.
*Sam does not refer to an actual person. His story is a fictional representation of common events.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America. “Men’s Mental Health | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA.” Adaa.org, 5 Jan. 2023, adaa.org/find-help/by-demographics/mens-mental-health.
“How Your Mental Health Affects Your Physical Health—and Why That Matters at Work.” University of Iowa Health Care, 2025, uihc.org/health-topics/how-your-mental-health-affects-your-physical-health-and-why-matters-work.