Mental health can affect anyone at any point in their life, and while society is gradually opening up to having more discussions about mental health there are still people who feel they cannot talk about their mental health because of stigmatization. This article will discuss some facts and statistics about men's mental health, how men are affected differently than women, stigma surrounding men's mental health, and lastly, where to turn for support.
Women are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder compared to men, which may not be surprising given the fact women are more likely to reach out for support and seek therapy from a professional when they are struggling. Men are more likely to "suffer in silence", which may lead to drug and/or alcohol abuse, severe depression, and even suicide. Men are also less likely to ask for help from either their family doctor, a friend, or a mental health professional.
Mental Health Challenges: Symptoms in Men
There are a number of factors which increase the risk of someone developing a mental illness, including but not limited to: being a veteran, a member of a minority group (e.g., First Nations/Native, gay and bisexual), and living in remote or rural areas, to name a few (Whitley, 2017).
Mental health affects men and women differently (Mayo Clinic, 2019), and men can show symptoms which are not as easily recognized as symptoms of depression in women. Like women who are experiencing depression, men may also:
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Experience sadness, hopelessness, or feel empty
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Be extremely tired
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Have irregular sleep habits, such as sleeping too much or too little
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Lose enjoyment in their previously-enjoyed activities
Other behaviors which would be a sign of depression in men, which are often not recognized, include:
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Spending a lot of time at work or on sports
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Physical complaints: headaches, stomach problems, unexplained pain
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Noticeable increase in alcohol or drug use
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Irritability, anger, or short tempered
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Risk-taking, such as reckless driving
Overall, men are more likely to complain about physical symptoms of depression which then leads them to visit their doctor. If you have a depressive episode the likelihood you will have a subsequent depressive episode increases each time.
Specific Mental Health Challenges for Men
There are a number of unique issues and pressures men face, such as feeling like they must fill traditional roles like being the main moneymaker of the family and show masculine behaviors like strength and self-control at home and at the workplace. Men are less likely to actually recognize depression compared to women, and when they do recognize the signs they tend to downplay their symptoms and underreport their symptoms of depression, so they are less likely to seek help. Minority stress results when men face mental health disparities as a result of stigmatization and the lack of support alongside other factors. In a survey conducted by Priory, they found that 77% of men suffered from anxiety, stress, or depression, with 22% of respondents saying they would not feel comfortable talking to their doctor or any other professional about mental health because they worried it would waste their time.
Mental Health Conditions and How They Affect Men Differently Than Women
Generally speaking, women report experiencing more mental health conditions than men. Because men are less likely to admit to struggling with mental health (NIMH, 2007), they are also less likely to end up in therapy. According to men's mental health statistics, nearly 6 million men are estimated to struggle with depression every year, and 75 percent of suicide victims in the United States are male (Whitley, 2017). Men between the ages of 35 and 64 have the highest number of suicides of any age group, which is more than twice the national average (NIMH, 2020). Men are also 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than women. On average one man takes his own life every 20 minutes.
