FirstMed Consulting Blog

What do a firefighter, police officer, US Air Force First Sergeant, college graduate and publisher have in common? They are all male and they have all suffered from serious depression.

Over 6 million American men have depression each year - about half the figure for women. But this gender difference is being questioned, in the United States and elsewhere. Men described their own symptoms of depression without realizing they were depressed. They made no connection between their mental health and physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive problems and chronic pain.

In men, mental illness can be covered. We’ve known for decades that women are more capable of recognize illness of any kind and go to their doctor. This doesn’t mean women are healthier, but that some men just repress it. We believe a lot of symptoms in men, for example, migraines, back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, derives from depression.

The consequences of masked depression can be devastating. Too many men out there are suffering. They’re acting out the depression. Acting may take the form of hostility and irritability; verbal violence and abusiveness; drinking to excess; or womanizing.

In cases of marital separation, there is a very important link between the man’s mental health and how the divorce goes. He says that when children are involved, and a current relationship is maintained, the father better adapts to his changed circumstances. If there’s a complete severing, then men can become suicidal.

Along with genetics and stress, MaleHealth.com points out that social and psychological factors can contribute to men’s depression. Men’s focus on competition and feeling powerful can be adversely affected by unemployment and the presence of women in the workplace. Physical illness, in particular a life-threatening condition, is another trigger for depression, since it directly impacts a man’s sense of strength and status.

Being aware of men and their vulnerability to depression is a rising trend and may help in terms of reducing the symbol attached to mental health. Some focused steps are being tested. A study in Australia reports that a men-only prompt list for physicians and patients, designed to overcome male reticence and low mental health literacy, assisted 60% of male patients in raising issues with their doctor.

National men’s health organizations in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe are growing focal points for men’s health research. The acknowledged lack of data on male health is leading to calls for a needs-driven rather than a gender-based approach to health care.