Counsellor James Leong said that gender policing is blatant and obvious at younger ages when children are ascribed colours, toys, hobbies, sports, activities based on their sex.
But the policing and sex-based pressures that are more implicit in the older ages also affect male roles. Mr Leong said:"Older men will have a bigger problem with masculinity than younger men who have fewer responsibilities and roles to play." Dr Mok Yee Ming, senior consultant in the Institute of Mental Health's Department of Mood and Anxiety, said:"We are all vulnerable to various stressors.
"Specific to men, some examples would be life transitions such as adjusting to the responsibilities of providing for the family or relinquishing the role of a provider following retirement.This could lead to depression and anxiety, and possibly suicide.