Over three-quarters (79%) of management have reported an increase in the number of male employees citing stress and anxiety as reasons for absence, according to research by Health Assured.
Some 77% of people in management roles said they feel unsure about how to approach and tackle the issue of male mental health.
David Price, managing director of Health Assured said: "Traditionally, women have been more forthcoming about their difficulties with mental health, but now it seems that men are starting to be more open and honest about how they are feeling at work."
Meanwhile, 71% of men said they wished they had come forward sooner about struggling with their mental health.
Health Assured had polled a total of 944 respondents for the survey. The research also found that 68% of male employees have been reduced to tears due to feeling stressed or anxious at work.
Price added: "The fact that men are only just starting to come forward may hide years of issues that could have been dealt much sooner during their earlier stages."
He also said: "I find it shocking that management are still unaware of how to deal with mental health concerns, particularly with male colleagues. The preconceived notion that men shouldn't cry or display their emotions, or that we should feel uncomfortable when men do so, is archaic to say the least.
"Management should ensure that they create an open workplace culture when it comes to employee mental health to encourage members of staff to come forward and speak with them openly about any issues they are having both inside and outside of work that may affect their productivity during working hours."
Further reading
A fifth of IP claims for mental health issues
