New report finds more than a third of teenage boys feel that it’s weird to talk about their feelings with other teenage boys
November 18, 2025
When it comes to mental health, connection is everything. But for many young men, that connection can feel out of reach.
According to the Adolescent Man Box 2025 survey, more than one in three teenage boys in Australia think it’s “weird” to talk about their feelings with other boys. This statistic might sound small, but the impact is big, because every young man who feels pressure to stay silent is one who may be struggling alone.
At batyr, we know that silence can be heavy. But we also know that change is happening because we see it every day in classrooms, communities, and through the stories shared by young men who are learning that vulnerability isn’t weakness.
For Christian, one of our lived experience storytellers, the conversation about men’s mental health goes beyond “men should be allowed to cry.”
“We see a lot of rhetoric online about men being allowed to express vulnerability,” he says. “But we don’t actually see it enough. While it’s easier said than done, the best thing young men can do right now is feel and express these parts of themselves loudly - to get away from the idea that being open is the exception to what it means to be a man. Leading loudly by example - being openly vulnerable, gentle and sensitive - is one of the ‘manliest’ things you can do.”
Christian’s reflection mirrors what the Adolescent Man Box report found: that many young men are beginning to reject outdated ideas of masculinity. Most boys do believe it’s okay to talk about problems and comfort one another. Many believe in gender equality and are turning to real-life relationships - with friends, family, and mentors - for guidance.
These are hopeful signs of progress. But to really shift the culture, we need more stories, more examples, and more spaces where young men can see that emotional openness isn’t rare - it’s real.
For Mac, the journey to connection has been deeply personal.
“Loneliness is something I’ve felt a lot in my life,” he shares. “It made me pull away from others, trying to deal with my mental health alone, which was never sustainable. What helped me feel truly connected again was brotherhood. Men around me to hold me. A space to go to where I could fully open.”
Mac’s experience highlights something powerful: that healing often starts in safe, supportive spaces built by - and for - men. Spaces where honesty is met with understanding, not judgment. That might look like a chat between mates, a community group, or even a new kind of “rite of passage” that celebrates emotional awareness as much as resilience.
“Young men need tribe,” Mac says. “To belong. To feel safe. To open up. To see they’re not the only ones going through it, and to let go of the collective shame we all carry.”
When young men feel like they have to be “tough” all the time, it doesn’t just harm their own wellbeing, it affects how they relate to others too.
The Adolescent Man Box report found that between 60% and 63% of young people think society expects boys to always appear strong and confident. Those who feel this pressure most intensely are also more likely to engage in harmful behaviours or struggle with their mental health. That’s why it’s so important to keep rewriting what it means to be a man - not by rejecting masculinity, but by expanding it.
“There’s nothing wrong with identifying with more ‘masculine’ traits,” Christian says. “But when ‘how to be a man’ becomes about ‘how not to be a woman,’ everyone loses.”
True masculinity, as Christian and Mac both remind us, isn’t about hiding feelings. It’s about connection, courage, and compassion - for ourselves and for each other.
If you’re finding things tough right now, Christian has this to say:
“I can absolutely guarantee that on the other side of reaching out are so many people who feel the same and will validate what you’re going through. For every ‘toughen up’, there are countless ‘I hear you’s’ and ‘let’s work through it together.’ You’re definitely not alone.”
And Mac echoes that sentiment:
“My advice isn’t to push when someone’s ready, but to be there when they are. Mental health isn’t linear. It flows. The greatest leap of courage is letting that be seen.”
The research shows hope, and our storytellers bring it to life. More boys than ever are questioning outdated expectations. They’re showing up for each other, having real conversations, and beginning to see that emotional expression is strength, not shame.
At batyr, we’ll keep working to create spaces where those conversations can happen early, often and without fear so that no young man feels like he has to face things alone.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis and is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, call 000. You can find a comprehensive list of mental health support services here.