Guilherme Valadares discusses masculinity and mental health on NXT Podcast

Guilherme Valadares, founder of Papo de Homem, brought a discussion about the construction of masculinity and the perception of cycles of violence to NXT Podcast. In a conversation with Giancarlo Nicastro, he shared experiences gathered through men’s groups and reflected on how neglecting one’s own emotions can be harmful both to the individual and to society.

After listening to more than 40,000 men throughout his career, Valadares has identified a recurring pattern: the high cost of emotional withdrawal. The difficulty of recognizing and expressing feelings can lead to self-destructive behavior or spill over into relationships with partners, children, relatives and friends.

“Many men are not taught to talk, ask for help or open their hearts. If I do not talk to anyone, I may not even know how to process what I am feeling. If I cannot process or name it, I have nothing to work through,” he said.

According to him, this silence is not limited to a specific age group or social class. It is an “inheritance” passed down through generations, supported by the idea that men must always be strong, have answers for everything and never show vulnerability.

In many cases, men only seek help after a moment of rupture, such as a divorce, job loss, bereavement or the realization that certain behaviors are pushing away the people who matter most.

The data presented during the conversation help illustrate the scale of the problem. According to a national study conducted by Instituto Papo de Homem, 51% of respondents reported high or extreme levels of anxiety.

One in three reported some level of depression, while one in five acknowledged some degree of pornography addiction. Gambling addiction has also quadrupled since 2019 in the organization’s historical data series.

Despite the seriousness of these accounts, Valadares emphasized that the discussion groups promoted by the institute are not a substitute for therapy or psychological treatment.

The goal is to create reflective spaces where participants can talk, find new tools and recognize possible courses of action that they may not have previously considered.