What is already known about this topic? Data suggest that more men than women are dying of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide, but it is unclear why. What is added by this report? We describe an approach that considers biological and psychosocial factors that affect men's health and how these factors may intersect. Clinical, public health, community, and policy examples illustrate what can be done, and is being done, to address men's COVID-19-associated mortality risk. Our approach highlights the importance of examining COVID-19-associated mortality risk from a men's health perspective rather than one that focuses solely on sex differences. What are the implications for public health practice? We can seize this moment to reimagine and redesign our health care and public health systems to consider the many factors that influence men's health.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a source of stress and have important mental health implications for all persons but may have unique implications for men. In addition to the risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19, the rising COVID-19 death toll, ongoing economic uncertainty, loneliness from social distancing, and other changes to our lifestyles make up the perfect recipe for a decline in mental health. In June 2020, men reported slightly lower rates of anxiety than women, but had higher rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. As of September 2020, men sought mental health care at a higher rate than women for family and relationships, with year-over-year visits up 5.5 times and total virtual mental health care visits monthly growth in 2020 was up 79% since January. Because men are not a homogeneous group, it is important to implement strategies for groups of men that may have particularly unique needs. In this paper, we discuss considerations for intervening in men’s mental health during and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including current technology-based cyberpsychology options.
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