The high rates of suicide and untreated depression among men is concerning. For Berry, masculinity can be damaging when it prevents men from receiving the emotional support they need.

“In our society, men fear being too ‘girly’ [...] meaning straight guys need to call ‘no homo’ if they’re too physically intimate with a guy, Yankee Candle needs to make man scents for men because candles are too feminine, and a guy who is too scrawny can get a ‘Do you even lift, bro?’ from their man friends,” said Berry. “Masculinity is fragile because it is merely a social code that men use to maintain their status.”

Men fear being too ‘girly’ [...] meaning straight guys need to call ‘no homo’ if they’re too physically intimate with a guy, Yankee Candle needs to make man scents for men because candles are too feminine, and a guy who is too scrawny can get a ‘Do you even lift, bro?’ from their man friends

Whether it’s a result of stigma or perceived barriers, university mental health services and support networks should expand to include prevention and intervention methods that target male university students. One factor to consider might be the female-oriented configuration of mental health services.

“One of the arguments in the literature is that psychological services are feminized in some ways,” said Whitley. “A substantial majority of psychologists are women. Men might rather talk to another man [...] These [arguments have] varying levels of evidence.”

This argument is supported by the Ohio State University’s Office of Student Life Counseling and Consultation Service. According to the Wall Street Journal, many schools in the US are recruiting more male therapists. A survey by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) showed that only 28.3 per cent of college counseling center professional staff were men. At MMHS, women staff double that of men, with a ratio of 16 to eight.

At MMHS, women staff double that of men, with a ratio of 16 to eight

But hiring male professionals in campus mental health services may not be enough in bridging the gender gap.

At McGill, the standard protocol for assessing a student who tries to access MMHS is scheduling an appointment to meet one-on-one with a clinician for 60 minutes to talk. From there, clinicians at MMHS will work with students to decide what is best in terms of treatment, peer support, and outside resources.

But according to Whitley, for men, the idea of talking to a stranger about their problems for 60 minutes once a week might not be an appealing way to respond to their psychological distress.

“Traditionally, if you look at human history of cultures, the way men go through psychological problems or through transitions [is] they often respond by playing sports, conducting traditional rituals, [or] starting a new project in life […] these are more practical-oriented solutions to problems,” he said.

Ohio State changed its group therapy recently to cater to more male students. Where it used to begin with ‘intense’ conversations, the group now starts with around 15 minutes of casual talk before moving towards a group therapy session, finished by a group game like cards. Male clients to the center increased 16 per cent in the 2013-2014 academic year.

Mental health services must reach out to male students in places that they are comfortable in, such as clubs, sports teams, and fraternities. For example, juggling commitment to a sports team and academics can add stress for students.