The Silent Struggles of Men on International Men's Day.

Every year on International Men’s Day, conversations often focus on celebrating men’s achievements and promoting positive role models.

Yet, beneath the surface lies a set of serious challenges that many men face quietly, often unnoticed or misunderstood.

These struggles are not just personal hardships; they ripple through families and society, especially when it comes to parental alienation.

This article sheds light on key statistics that reveal the depth of these issues and why addressing them matters for everyone.

If you're an alienated parent and need help with your situation then you should join PAPA today.

At PAPA we have several free to use support spaces, as well as several additional resources available to our Plus members, such as courses, PAPA AI, 1-2-1 help and workshops on family law and mental health.

Mental Health Challenges and Suicide Rates Among Men

One of the most alarming facts is that men account for approximately 76% of all suicides.

This stark number highlights a mental health crisis that disproportionately affects men.

Despite this, many men hesitate to seek help due to social stigma and cultural expectations around masculinity.

The pressure to appear strong and self-reliant often prevents men from accessing the support they need.

Mental health struggles can worsen when men face other stressors such as relationship breakdowns or custody battles.

Fathers experiencing these difficulties may find it harder to maintain contact with their children, which can lead to or deepen parental alienation.

Without adequate mental health support tailored to men’s needs, these problems can spiral, affecting not only the men themselves but also their families.

Follow the PAPA Death Penalty Campaign for more info.

Housing Insecurity and Homelessness Among Men

Housing insecurity is another critical issue.

Around 85% of the homeless population is male, a figure that reveals how men are more vulnerable to losing stable housing.

Homelessness brings a host of challenges, including poor health, limited access to services, and social isolation.

For fathers, unstable housing can severely limit their ability to provide for and stay connected with their children.

The lack of targeted support for homeless men means many fall through the cracks.

Programs often focus more on women and children, leaving men with fewer resources.

This gap contributes to ongoing cycles of hardship and alienation from family life.

Follow the PAPA Child Benefit Campaign for more info.

Domestic Abuse and Male Victims

Domestic abuse is commonly viewed as an issue affecting women, but men are also victims.

Approximately 40% of domestic abuse victims are men.

Despite this significant number, support services for male victims remain limited and less visible.

Many men face disbelief or ridicule when they report abuse, which discourages them from seeking help.

This lack of recognition can leave male victims isolated and vulnerable.

For fathers, unresolved trauma from abuse can impact their parenting and relationships with their children.

Addressing domestic abuse must include better support and awareness for men to ensure all victims receive the help they need.

Disparities in the Criminal Justice System

Men also face notable disparities in the criminal justice system.

Research shows that men receive sentences that are about 64% longer than women for the same crimes.

Additionally, men are up to 3.4 times more likely to be imprisoned compared to women committing similar offenses.

These disparities have far-reaching consequences.

Incarceration disrupts family life and can lead to long-term separation from children.

Fathers who serve prison sentences often struggle to maintain relationships with their children, increasing the risk of parental alienation.

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The justice system’s unequal treatment of men adds another layer of difficulty to an already challenging situation.

How These Challenges Contribute to Parental Alienation

Parental alienation occurs when one parent’s relationship with their child is damaged or severed, often due to conflict or manipulation during separation or custody disputes.

The issues discussed—mental health struggles, homelessness, domestic abuse, and incarceration—can all reduce a father’s ability to stay involved in their child’s life.

For example, a father facing mental health problems may withdraw or be perceived as unreliable.

A father without stable housing might find it difficult to provide a safe environment for visits.

A father who has experienced abuse or incarceration may face stigma or legal barriers that limit contact with children.

These factors combine to create a perfect storm where parental alienation can take root.

The Broader Social Impact of Ignoring Men’s Issues

Parental alienation is not just a private family matter; it has wider social consequences.

When fathers disengage, children lose important emotional support and role models.

This loss can affect children’s development, well-being, and future relationships.

Moreover, society bears the cost of unresolved issues.

Mental health crises, homelessness, and incarceration all require public resources.

Children growing up without stable parental relationships may face greater risks of social and economic difficulties.

Addressing men’s challenges is therefore essential for building healthier families and communities.

What International Men’s Day Can Highlight and Inspire

International Men’s Day offers a chance to recognise these overlooked statistics and what they mean.

It calls for:

• Fairer family court practices that consider the challenges men face and support meaningful father-child relationships.

• Improved mental health services designed to reach men and reduce stigma around seeking help.

• Expanded support for homeless men to provide stable housing and pathways back to family life.

• Greater awareness and resources for male victims of domestic abuse.

• More equitable treatment of men in the criminal justice system to reduce unnecessary incarceration and its impact on families.

  
  

These steps are not about competing with women’s rights but about creating a balanced society where everyone has the support they need.

Moving Forward with Understanding and Action

Recognising the silent struggles men face is the first step toward change.

By paying attention to these statistics and the stories behind them, we can build a society that supports men’s well-being and strengthens families.

Fathers play a vital role in children’s lives, and ensuring they can maintain those bonds benefits everyone.

In need of help or support?

If you are an alienated parent reading this article and feel you are in need of help and support then please make sure to join PAPA today by signing up here on our website.

This will give you access to our community support forum as well as our Resource Centre, which includes downloadable guides and on-demand courses to help through the process of being alienated and regaining contact with your children.

We also have our Facebook support group that you can join here.

Our Facebook support group has several dedicated chat rooms where you can get immediate support.

If you are a member of PAPA you can also send us a message here on the website and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible but please bear in mind, we have hundreds of messages weekly so it may take us a while to get back to you.

We are currently prioritising PAPA Plus members due to high demand.

Regardless of circumstance you are not alone and at PAPA we are here to support you.

Become a PAPA Ambassador

If you like our resources, articles and support networks and agree with what we stand for then why not get involved and help us push PAPA further by joining our Ambassador Program?

We would love for you to join us and help spread awareness for parental alienation and all of the dynamics involved so that we can continue to help parents and children towards a better future.

Our Ambassador Program allows you to grow your involvement with the cause by earning points on your membership.

To earn points we have created rewards for actions such as completing one of our courses, booking a case review, or ordering supply.

We will be adding new rewards and actions to our Ambassador Program as we continue to grow our awareness efforts.

We want our members to feel rewarded for their support as we continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of those impacted by parental alienation.

You can also become a PAPA Plus member, which will give you exclusive access to even more help and resources.

Each PAPA Plus membership makes a huge difference to the cause as it really helps us to improve our services and our awareness campaigns.

Proceeds from memberships and supply allow us to push the cause much further towards raising awareness and improving our services and resources so that we can continue to help more and more parents and children.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support of PAPA and our mission to end parental alienation.