Cages

In 2023, according to the World Health Organization, men accounted for roughly three quarters of global suicide deaths.

At the same time, women consistently report higher rates of anxiety and depression.

Men are often raised to suppress vulnerability.

Women are often raised to internalize pressure and over-function.

One group is more likely to explode.

The other is more likely to implode.

And then we bring those same expectations into the workplace.

We praise men for endurance.

We praise women for emotional labor.

We reward the mask and then act surprised when the cost shows up as burnout, absence, or something worse.

This is about recognizing that expectations shape behavior and behavior shapes health.

If we want to take mental health at work seriously, we can’t just talk about resilience. We have to talk about what people were taught to hide.

Because different cages don’t make different humans. They just produce different symptoms.