Massage Therapy and Men’s Health: Breaking the Stigma, Ending the Silence, Promoting Healing

Suzan D. Walker LMT 104331
Oct 19
4 min read

Silhouette of a person with arms outstretched facing a sunrise. Sunlight pierces through the misty orange horizon, creating a serene mood. — Massage therapy supports circulation, lymphatic function, and stress reduction, all of which contribute to measurable health benefits. Regular sessions can improve immune function, reduce chronic pain, and enhance overall wellbeing.

Men’s health is a conversation that society often avoids. From mental health struggles to physical ailments, men are less likely than women to seek help, discuss their feelings, or even acknowledge pain. Toxic societal expectations teach boys from childhood to be strong, to toughen up, and not to cry. This perpetuates harmful myths about masculinity, leaving many men feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and silently suffering.

Men carry trauma, tension, and stress in their bodies long before they recognize it in their minds. Massage therapy, lymphatic drainage, and energy healing provide essential tools for helping men reconnect with themselves, release trauma, and embrace both their masculine and feminine energies.

The Impact of Toxic Masculinity

Toxic masculinity develops when boys and men are taught from an early age to suppress emotions, avoid vulnerability, and conform to rigid ideas of masculinity. Over time, this can lead to unhealthy expressions of anger, aggression, and frustration, as well as difficulties forming meaningful relationships.

When men are discouraged from expressing feelings in healthy and constructive ways, they carry emotional burdens silently. This not only contributes to higher rates of depression and suicide but also perpetuates cycles of harm in families, communities, and society at large. Addressing toxic masculinity is a crucial step toward improving mental health, fostering emotional intelligence, and creating a culture where men feel safe to seek help and express themselves authentically.

The Hidden Epidemic: Mental Health and Suicide Among Men

Statistics consistently show that men are at higher risk of suicide than women, yet they are far less likely to seek mental health care. Emotional suppression, shaped by societal expectations about masculinity, can lead to anger, aggression, depression, and self-harm.

My maternal grandfather took his own life back in 1972. At that time, the social climate offered little understanding or compassion. Men who struggled were often seen as weak or “less than.” With limited support and no safe place to turn, he ended his life. I have often wished that he could have received the help he needed for his sake and for the family and generations who felt the ripple of that pain. His loss left a wound that shaped our lineage, a reminder of how deeply the silence surrounding men’s mental health can affect entire families.

Many men are still taught to ignore their feelings or laugh off trauma. But trauma does not disappear. It manifests in the body as tension, pain, and stress-related illness. Massage therapy provides a safe, supportive space for men to release what society has told them to hide.

Men’s Physical Health Needs More Attention

Physical health concerns in men are often neglected. Examples include:

Breast cancer in men is rising, yet awareness and early detection remain low
Heart disease, obesity, and chronic pain often go untreated due to stigma around seeking help
Men are less likely to receive preventive care, including regular check-ups and mental health screenings

Massage therapy supports circulation, lymphatic function, and stress reduction, all of which contribute to measurable health benefits. Regular sessions can improve immune function, reduce chronic pain, and enhance overall wellbeing.

Healing Emotional Trauma Through Touch

Men experience trauma in many forms, including sexual abuse, emotional manipulation, and physical violence. Society often trivializes these experiences, making men feel ashamed or invalidated.

Massage therapy offers a nonjudgmental space to process these experiences. Techniques such as myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, and energy work help men release stored tension, reconnect with their bodies, and find emotional balance. Embracing both masculine and feminine aspects within themselves allows men to experience a more integrated sense of self.

Massage Therapy as a Path to Wholeness

Every person carries a combination of yin and yang, masculine and feminine energies. When men are encouraged to explore both sides, they gain emotional resilience, improved mental clarity, and a deeper sense of self-compassion.

Massage therapy can be a starting point on the journey toward healing, balance, and empowerment.

Conclusion

As a society, we must pay attention to men’s mental and physical health and challenge the stereotypes that prevent men from seeking care. Massage therapy, energy work, and body-centered healing are vital for men to release trauma, restore balance, and embrace a healthier, more compassionate relationship with themselves.

Today, we are beginning to talk about these issues more openly, creating a dialogue that was largely absent in the past. By having honest conversations and expressing our feelings, we can address critical health issues and work toward preventing tragedies like suicide. It is essential for personal and collective health. Men’s mental health is a frontline in the broader struggle for mental wellbeing in our society.

By acknowledging these struggles, supporting one another, and embracing both masculine and feminine energies, we can begin to heal as individuals, families, and communities.

When we prioritize mental and emotional health, we take a step toward creating a world that is healthier, more compassionate, and more whole.

With care and support,

Suzan (Susan) Walker LMT

Massage therapy is not a substitution for medical treatment. The massage therapist cannot diagnose, treat or prevent disease. The therapist can only recommend products and services. Please consult a medical physician for further treatment.