How Depression Affects Men

At least six million men in the United States
suffer from a depressive episode every year.

Depression is a common brain disorder that affects one of every seven individuals in their lifetime. Depressive illnesses such as depression and bipolar disorder are caused by a combination of genetics, changes in the brain’s stress response, different chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) and differences in the brain’s circuitry patterns in response to life events. At least six million men in the United States suffer from a depressive episode every year.

Men and women share many standard symptoms of depression, such as sleep, appetite and pleasure disturbances, but men frequently experience depression differently than women. They may emphasize physical complaints, such as backaches. They may get discouraged, angry and irritable rather than helpless or hopeless. Instead of asking for help when depressed, men tend to turn to drugs or alcohol, or work excessively long hours. In addition, depressed men may not recognize that physical symptoms such as fatigue, digestive problems and aches and pains that won’t go away can be symptoms of depression. Due in part to these factors, depression in men often goes undetected, with serious and tragic consequences: four times as many men as women die by suicide in the United States.

The positive news, however, is that depression is treatable, most often with medication, psychotherapy (“talk” therapy) or a combination of both. Even better news for those who have struggled with repeat episodes is that it is possible to prevent recurrences for most.

For men, acknowledging they are depressed and asking for help may be the biggest hurdle. Men—and their families and friends—have to learn that depression is a brain disease and a common illness, just as pain in the chest may be secondary to a heart disease. Depression is NOT a sign of weakness. Family, friends and co-workers can help to recognize depressive symptoms in men, emphasize that depression is a medical illness and encourage them to seek appropriate treatment.