The way men are taught, through childhood, to be ‘manly’ does not emphasise social and emotional
skills. Men can experience a ‘big build’ of distress, which can culminate in crisis. Men in mid-life are
dependent primarily on female partners for emotional support. Women help them to recognise their
own distress, provide them with care and encourage them to seek help. Women maintain close
same-sex relationships across their lives, but men’s peer relationships drop away after the age of 30.
Women are much more open to talking about emotions than men of all ages and social classes.
Male friendships tend to be based on companionship through doing activities together. The ‘healthy’
ways men cope are using music or exercise to manage stress or worry, rather than ‘talking’. Men are
much less likely than women to have a positive view of counselling or therapy. However, both men
and women make use of these services at times of crisis.