Millennials Absorb Older Culture, Gen Z Must Seek It Out

Grief and emotional support for men often overlooked compared to women

Mar. 12, 2026 at 7:05pm

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A Reddit post highlighting the lack of emotional support for grieving fathers sparked a discussion about how society often fails to encourage men to open up about their feelings. Experts say this 'silent epidemic' among men is rooted in cultural expectations of masculinity that discourage vulnerability. Mindfulness and creating healthy spaces for men to process emotions are suggested as ways to address this issue.

Why it matters

This story sheds light on the gender disparity in emotional support, particularly for men dealing with grief and other mental health challenges. It highlights the need for a cultural shift that encourages men to be more open about their feelings without fear of judgment or stigma.

The details

The Reddit post, titled '100% Really Sucks,' was written by a man who shared his experience of losing his 9-year-old son to cancer. He noted that while his wife received an outpouring of support, he was largely overlooked, with only a few close male friends checking in on him. Other commenters shared similar stories, such as a divorced father who felt unsupported compared to his ex-wife. Experts say this lack of support for men is a 'silent epidemic,' with men less likely to seek help for mental health issues due to cultural expectations of masculinity that discourage vulnerability.

  • The Reddit post was made 10 years after the original poster's son passed away from cancer.

The players

Reddit user

The original poster who shared his experience of losing his 9-year-old son and the lack of emotional support he received as a grieving father.

Nick Norman, LICSW

A psychotherapist who wrote an article for Psychology Today discussing the 'silent epidemic' of male grief and the cultural expectations that discourage men from processing their emotions.

Jeanette Lorandini, LCSW

The founder of Suffolk DBT in New York, who provided expert insights on how mindfulness and creating healthy spaces for men to process their emotions can help address this issue.

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What they’re saying

“About ten years ago, our at the time 9-year-old son died of cancer. Hundreds of people asked my wife how she was doing, offered her support, etc. Lots of people asked me how she was doing, how the kids were doing, and how I had to be strong for her and our two remaining kids. Only a few close male friends asked how I was doing. Not one of my female friends did. Not even my mother. It never occurred to them.”

— Reddit user

“According to the CDC, 1 in 10 men experiences anxiety or depression, but less than half reach out for help. They are less likely to seek help for mental or emotional difficulties overall.”

— Nick Norman, LICSW, Psychotherapist

“Mindfulness, a core component of DBT, encourages people to slow down, notice their emotional experience, and give themselves permission to feel sadness rather than push it away. We call that mindfulness of current emotion. When someone does not give themselves these important moments to grieve, they develop what we call inhibitive grief. It doesn't go away but remains in a 'holding cell.'”

— Jeanette Lorandini, LCSW, Founder of Suffolk DBT

The takeaway

This story highlights the need for a cultural shift that encourages men to be more open about their emotions and seeks to provide them with the same level of emotional support that is often extended to women. By creating healthy spaces for men to process their feelings and promoting mindfulness practices, we can help address the 'silent epidemic' of male grief and improve overall mental health outcomes for men.