5 Ways to Support the Mental Health of Boys and Young Men

Boys may struggle to express a full range of emotions because social norms often drive them toward anger or silence instead of more nuanced emotional expression. Building emotional literacy early on helps create building blocks for communication. Tools like emotion charts, games and books make feelings easier to recognize, name, and normalize. Regular check-ins with a trusted adult, as well as caregivers’ modeling of healthy vulnerability in age-appropriate ways, can make mental health discussions feel more natural.

Connection is often strongest when caregivers show genuine interest in the worlds boys and young men already inhabit. If they invite you into their interests—whether sports, gaming, music, humor, online content or friendships—that is an opportunity to engage, not dismiss.

Caregivers play a central role in emotional development, but boys and young men often benefit from relationships with other trusted adults too, including mentors, coaches, educators and family friends. As a trusted adult, instead of offering immediate solutions, it is often more effective to ask questions that encourage their own problem-solving. Consider the following conversation starters to understand what’s going on in their world:

• What’s been taking up most of your headspace lately—school, friends, something else?
• When things feel off, what helps you feel more like yourself?
• I just wanted to check in—how have you been doing lately?

Digital life can be both meaningful and challenging for boys and young men. Online spaces can offer connection, identity exploration and community—but they can also expose users to harmful content, cyberbullying and unhealthy norms.

Online messaging about masculinity can shape how boys and young men think about emotions, relationships and help-seeking. Asking what resonates about a certain influencer or message can reveal underlying needs for belonging, confidence, status or clarity that deserve attention. It can also help young people develop more critical thinking about the media they consume.

One practical step is helping boys learn how to shape their own online experiences. Using platform tools such as muting, blocking or marking content as “not interested” can help them curate feeds that feel more constructive. 

Some warning signs may be easy to miss. In addition to more visible anger or frustration, caregivers should pay attention to changes from a young person’s usual behavior. A boy who is typically social but suddenly withdraws or spends long periods isolated may be signaling distress in less direct ways.

It can also be important to notice patterns in how they talk about gender, relationships or fairness—especially if those conversations begin to center on “us versus them” thinking. These shifts do not always mean something is seriously wrong, but they may indicate a need for deeper conversation.

Empowering boys and young men is not only an individual or family responsibility. Schools, youth programs and communities also have a role to play in creating environments where connection, belonging and emotional wellbeing are possible.

Caregivers can advocate for welcoming spaces where boys can build friendships and feel connected. They can also encourage stronger digital literacy education, mental health resources and opportunities for young people to shape the supports designed for them.

In many cases, some of the best ideas may come directly from boys and young men themselves. Asking what they need and co-creating or fostering youth-led solutions can build more effective solutions.