GUAYNABO, PR (October 21, 2026) – Men’s mental health issues are often described as a silent crisis, with many struggles going undetected as men face pressure to always appear composed. The Men’s Mental Health Check-In Report, released by trusted online resume builder LiveCareer®, found that nearly 8 in 10 men (78%) have hidden stress, burnout, or mental health struggles at work to appear strong or professional. Based on a survey of 700 employed U.S. men, the report also found that 84% believe men are expected to “tough it out” and avoid showing mental health struggles at work.
Key Findings
-
Workplace expectations encourage silence: 78% have concealed stress, burnout, or mental health struggles at work to appear strong or professional.
-
Pressure to “tough it out”: 84% believe men are expected to avoid showing mental health struggles at work.
-
Manager check-ins absent: 52% say their manager has not checked in on their mental well-being in the past year.
-
Workplace culture carries a steep price: 65% have considered leaving or left a job because it negatively affected their mental health, including 29% who left.
-
Fear of speaking up: 34% cite judgment or stigma as a barrier to seeking support, while 32% fear it could hurt their career.
Men Keep Their Struggles Hidden at Work
For many men, appearing strong or professional means keeping stress, burnout, or mental health struggles out of view. Nearly 8 in 10 (78%) say they have hidden these struggles at work at least occasionally. When asked how frequently they have done so to appear strong or professional:
-
Constantly – 24%
-
Occasionally – 54%
-
Never – 22%
Workplace Culture Normalizes Harmful Expectations
More than 8 in 10 (84%) believe that men are expected to “tough it out” and avoid showing mental health struggles at work. When the majority feel this way, it indicates that dangerous cultural norms have taken root in the workplace.
Most Managers Never Check In
When managers fail to prioritize mental health or check in with employees, they reinforce an atmosphere where mental health struggles go unspoken. More than half of men (52%) say their manager did not check in even once about their stress or mental well-being in the past year.
When asked how often their manager had checked in:
-
Never – 52%
-
A few times – 28%
-
Once – 10%
-
Frequently – 10%
Mental Health Strain Reaches a Breaking Point at Work
When a workplace doesn’t support mental health, men may look elsewhere for a healthier environment rather than wait for conditions to change. Nearly two-thirds (65%) have considered leaving or left a job because it was negatively affecting their mental health.
-
36% – considered leaving but stayed
-
29% – left a job because it had a negative effect on mental health
-
35% – have not considered leaving for this reason
Why Men Hesitate to Seek Support
Men face many obstacles to discussing mental health concerns or seeking support at work, but most stem from the desire to handle their struggles alone and fears about judgment, career damage, and privacy. Only 15% say they would feel comfortable seeking support.
The biggest barriers preventing men from discussing a mental health concern or seeking support at work are:
-
Desire to handle it on their own – 35%
-
Fear of judgment or stigma – 34%
-
Fear that speaking up could hurt their career – 32%
-
Privacy or confidentiality concerns – 30%
-
Lack of trust in their manager – 20%
Workplace Changes Men Want Most
Men also identified the workplace changes that would most improve their mental health:
-
More flexible work arrangements – 33%
-
More manageable workloads – 31%
-
Additional paid time off for mental health – 28%
-
Affordable, confidential mental health services – 20%
“There’s a critical need for workplaces to create an environment where men feel comfortable speaking openly about mental health,” said Jasmine Escalera, career expert for LiveCareer. “Currently, men are up against a great deal of stigma and outdated perceptions that encourage them to suffer silently. A strong sense of belonging and support can help prevent mental health struggles from going unchecked.”
To view the full report and for more information, please visit https://www.livecareer.com/resources/careers/mens-mental-health-report or contact Elizabeth Buccianti, senior manager, public relations at [email protected].
Methodology
The findings presented in this report are based on a nationally representative survey conducted by LiveCareer using Pollfish on September 15, 2026. The survey collected responses from 700 U.S. men who are currently employed and explored their experiences with mental health in the workplace. They answered different types of questions, including yes/no, open-ended, scale-based questions where respondents indicated their level of agreement with statements, and multiple-choice where they could select from a list of provided options.
Participants represented a broad cross-section of the working population of employed men. Age-wise, the distribution was also balanced: 23% were aged 18–28 (Gen Z), 28% were aged 29–44 (Millennials), 25% were aged 45–60 (Gen X), and 24% were aged 61–79 (Baby Boomers). All participants were screened to ensure they were currently residing in the U.S. and actively employed at the time of the survey. The data collection adhered to Pollfish’s quality control standards to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results.
