A growing body of research and media coverage is challenging the long-held silence around men’s emotional struggles in romantic relationships, revealing that the pain of heartbreak, ghosting, and emotional strain has a far deeper impact on men’s mental health than previously acknowledged. This timely conversation, highlighted in a recent feature from KHOU 11+ (“I’m not OK: Why love hurts more than we admit” KHOU), offers Thai readers urgent insights into the hidden battles men face in love—and why understanding these challenges is crucial to advancing mental wellness for everyone.
In a society where norms dictate that men must be stoic, self-contained, and emotionally impenetrable, heartbreak and other forms of romantic rejection often remain taboo topics, especially among men. Such expectations are as prevalent in Thailand as in the US, where phrases like “man up” or, in Thai, “เป็นผู้ชายต้องอดทน” (“a man must endure”), dominate common wisdom and reinforce the idea that vulnerability equals weakness. New research and candid dialogues are now shattering these myths and highlighting the emotional cost men bear when navigating relationships in silence.
A 2025 study reported by GlobeNewswire found that men’s mental health is in significant decline, with half of respondents lacking sufficient social support, and 64% reporting moderate-to-high stress levels—an increase compared to previous years (GlobeNewsWire). The emotional toll isn’t confined to Western settings: Thai men also face high societal and familial expectations, often suppressing feelings of sadness, anxiety, or heartbreak until they manifest as physical illness or riskier behaviors such as substance abuse. According to Vanderbilt University’s 2025 commentary, traditional “feeling rules” have stifled emotional expression for men over generations—a pattern mirrored in Thailand’s own gender roles (Vanderbilt News).
The recent KHOU 11+ panel brought together comedians and a therapist to discuss these issues candidly. According to the participating therapist, too often society “gives men strict rules on handling emotions,” which can lead to hidden struggles, emotional isolation, and blocked connections in dating and love. The discussion dispelled the myth that emotional pain is less severe for men and instead highlighted how silence exacerbates symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation—a mental health crisis that is now recognized by experts worldwide.
For Thai readers, these findings have direct relevance. Data from the Department of Mental Health shows Thai men are less likely to seek professional support, with stigma and self-reliance acting as major barriers. Furthermore, findings from the Global Wellness Institute’s 2025 report support this trend, emphasizing that 95% of men say they prioritize mental health, even as the men’s self-care industry grows to over $90 billion worldwide (Global Wellness Institute). However, experts caution that market solutions alone are not enough; cultural attitudes must shift to value openness and support.
Notably, academic studies corroborate the link between social support, emotional openness, and better mental health outcomes among men in relationships. Research summarized by Tava Health (2025) points to the damaging effects of emotional suppression, with increased rates of loneliness, substance abuse, and relationship breakdown for those unable or unwilling to discuss their feelings (Tava Health). The role of close relationships is especially critical: studies by Holditch-Davis et al. in PubMed literature demonstrate that positive romantic and familial relationships can buffer against depression and anxiety, while unresolved conflict or abandonment triggers psychological distress on par with clinical trauma.
Culturally, openness about emotional pain was once more common in Thai society, such as through poetry, music, or temple-based counseling. But recent decades have seen a tightening of gender expectations, particularly among younger men influenced both by traditional ideals and Westernized “alpha male” imagery proliferating via social media. As a result, many Thai men experience heartbreak or emotional exclusion alone, compounding risks of depression and unhealthy coping.
Some Thai therapists and mental health advocates, including specialists from leading Bangkok hospitals, point out that normalizing conversations about love’s emotional impacts can save lives. As one psychiatrist from a Bangkok mental health institute observes, “We see depression, substance use, and physical health issues that all trace back to unaddressed romantic pain and loss. For men, being able to voice sadness or grief is a health intervention in itself.”
Looking ahead, the momentum for change is building. New initiatives—such as workshops for men’s emotional skills, peer-support networks, and the inclusion of relationship education in Thai schools—offer promise. Internationally, calls to rewrite entrenched “feeling rules” resonate with movements within Thailand to update its own guidance around masculinity, mental health, and relationships. Social media campaigns, local dramas, and pop culture moments are already beginning to show more nuanced portrayals of Thai men’s vulnerabilities and strengths.
What does this mean for the future? If research and conversations like those spotlighted by KHOU 11+ are any guide, the path to healing begins with dialogue. For Thai families, schools, and workplaces, openly acknowledging the gravity of heartbreak and encouraging help-seeking behaviors—regardless of gender—could help address Thailand’s growing mental health burden. Concrete steps include expanding access to mental health care for men, normalizing emotional education for boys from a young age, and challenging cultural scripts that equate toughness with emotional isolation.
For Thai readers navigating romance or supporting loved ones through emotional challenges, the practical takeaway is clear: make space for honest conversation, validate feelings—your own and others’—and seek support early, whether from friends, health professionals, or trusted community leaders. Heartbreak hurts, but healing starts with listening—and admitting, as this research reveals, that not being OK is a normal part of being human.
Sources:
- KHOU 11+ “I’m not OK: Why love hurts more than we admit”
- GlobeNewsWire: Significant decline in men’s mental health
- Vanderbilt News: Rewrite feeling rules for men’s mental health
- Global Wellness Institute: Men’s Wellness Trends 2025
- Tava Health: Addressing men’s mental health crisis
- Thai Department of Mental Health, Academic Literature via PubMed