A physician specialist, Dr Joojo Aryee, has called for stronger national attention to men’s mental health, warning that cultural expectations and poor health-seeking behaviour are driving many men to present at health facilities only when conditions have become severe.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show’s health segment hosted by consultant neurosurgeon Dr Teddy Totimeh on Thursday (11 June), Dr Aryee said Ghanaian men are significantly less likely than women to seek medical care early, a pattern that often results in delayed diagnosis and worse health outcomes.

He noted that this trend reflects a broader global pattern but remains particularly pronounced in Ghana, where men frequently “brush things under the rug” instead of seeking professional help.

“Men are not good at seeking help and would rather brush things under the rug,” he said, adding that this leads to cases being detected at advanced stages when treatment options are limited.

Dr Aryee also highlighted growing concerns about men’s mental health, stressing that cultural norms around masculinity discourage emotional expression and help-seeking behaviour.

He said many men are taught that “a man does not cry,” a mindset that contributes to silent suffering and low uptake of mental health services among males.

According to him, even where mental health awareness is improving in Ghana, women continue to dominate utilisation of psychological and psychiatric services.

He further warned that the burden of chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes can also negatively affect men’s psychological wellbeing, particularly when long-term management becomes financially and emotionally draining.

“In developed health systems, mental health is integrated into chronic disease care,” he noted, adding that comprehensive treatment should include psychological support alongside physical health management.

Dr Aryee identified hypertension, diabetes, and prostate-related diseases as the three most critical health concerns affecting men in Ghana.

He said poorly managed hypertension remains a leading cause of stroke and other complications, while diabetes contributes to severe outcomes such as amputations, cardiovascular disease and recurrent infections.

He also emphasised the importance of prostate cancer screening, noting that the disease remains one of the most common cancers affecting men in Ghana and is treatable when detected early.

“About the age of 40 to 45, men should begin regular prostate screening,” he said, adding that early detection significantly improves survival and treatment outcomes.

Dr Aryee urged men to adopt preventive healthcare practices, including regular medical check-ups, healthy diets, exercise, adequate sleep, and avoidance of alcohol and smoking.

He also appealed to policymakers to strengthen Ghana’s health financing systems to reduce financial barriers to routine screening and treatment.

He suggested reforms to the National Health Insurance Scheme or the introduction of a more comprehensive model that would cover preventive care for non-communicable diseases and prostate screening.

“Money should not be a hindrance when people need to access care,” he said, arguing that improved access would reduce long-term economic strain on families and the state.

Addressing parents, particularly mothers, Dr Aryee encouraged the upbringing of boys in environments that promote emotional openness and healthy lifestyles.

He warned that restrictive emotional socialisation—where boys are discouraged from expressing feelings—can contribute to long-term mental health challenges.

He also cautioned against unhealthy childhood diets, noting that poor nutrition increases the risk of obesity, which is a key driver of adult hypertension and diabetes.

“If you are born in a household where exercise and healthy diets are part of life, you are more likely to continue that lifestyle into adulthood,” he said.

Dr Aryee concluded by urging men to take advantage of Men’s Health Week to undergo routine medical checks and adopt healthier lifestyles.

“If you have not done your annual medical examination, use this week as an opportunity,” he said.

He added that sleep, rest, and stress management are essential components of men’s health, warning against the belief that rest is a sign of weakness.

The discussion formed part of the Asaase Breakfast Show’s health segment, hosted by Dr Teddy Totimeh, which focused on men’s mental health and broader non-communicable disease risks affecting male populations in Ghana.