The question “Should men treat depression?” has a resounding answer: Absolutely, yes. Depression is a serious, life-threatening medical illness that affects people of all genders. For men, however, deeply ingrained societal expectations often create unique barriers to recognizing and seeking help for this condition, leading to underdiagnosis and tragic outcomes.
Why Men Often Don't Seek Treatment
Traditional concepts of masculinity, which value stoicism, self-reliance, and control, are the primary culprits in preventing men from getting the help they need. Seeking mental health treatment is often wrongly perceived as a sign of weakness or a failure to “man up.”
Key barriers include:
- Atypical Symptoms: Men are less likely to report feeling “sad” or “hopeless.” Their depression often manifests as anger, irritability, aggression, or engaging in high-risk behaviors like reckless driving. Physical symptoms like headaches, chronic pain, and digestive issues are also common presentations, which men are more willing to report to a doctor than emotional distress.
- The “Solve It Yourself” Mentality: Many men feel compelled to solve their own problems, seeing professional help as a last resort or an admission of defeat.
- Stigma and Fear: The fear of being judged, losing respect from family or colleagues, or harming career prospects due to the stigma associated with mental illness is a significant deterrent.
- Substance Abuse: Men may attempt to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs to cope with their negative emotions, further masking the underlying depression and increasing the risk of addiction.
The Severe Consequences of Untreated Depression
Untreated depression will not simply “go away” and is likely to worsen over time, severely impacting every area of a man’s life.
- Increased Suicide Risk: This is the most critical consequence. While women may attempt suicide more often, men are significantly more likely to die by suicide (approximately four times more often) because they tend to use more lethal methods and act more impulsively.
- Physical Health Deterioration: Untreated depression is linked to physical health issues, including heart disease, chronic pain, and a weakened immune system.
- Relationship and Work Problems: Symptoms like chronic irritability, social withdrawal, lack of interest in hobbies, and difficulty concentrating can destroy personal relationships and severely hinder work performance, potentially leading to job loss.
- Worsening Mental Health: The lack of treatment can lead to more severe and frequent depressive episodes, and it often co-occurs with other mental health disorders like anxiety and substance use disorder.
Treatment is Effective and a Sign of Strength
Depression is a treatable medical condition, typically managed through a combination of psychotherapy (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT), medication (antidepressants), and lifestyle changes (exercise, better sleep, diet, and mindfulness).
Seeking help is an act of strength, demonstrating responsibility and a commitment to one’s own health and the well-being of loved ones. It is a necessary step to regain control, improve quality of life, and, critically, save lives.
If you or a man you know is struggling, reaching out to a healthcare professional, a mental health specialist, or a crisis hotline is the first and most important step.
Light-tunnel Behavioral Health Services Inc. provides a variety of mental health services that can be used to treat depression in men. Their approach is focused on personalized, comprehensive care.
Here is a breakdown of the key services they offer that are relevant to treating men’s depression:
Core Treatment Services
These services form the foundation of most modern depression treatment plans:
- Psychiatric Evaluation: This initial, in-depth assessment helps an experienced professional understand the man’s medical history, current symptoms (which can often be masked or atypical in men, presenting as anger or irritability), and contributing factors. This leads to an accurate diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan.
- Medication Management: If appropriate, they offer effective medication management, which involves selecting the correct type of antidepressant, monitoring its efficacy, and adjusting the dosage as needed.
- Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy): They offer various forms of psychotherapy, including:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)/Supportive Therapy: This is highly effective for depression. It helps men identify and challenge the negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to their depression CBT focuses on actionable strategies and coping skills, which often aligns well with a man’s preference for practical solutions.
Advanced and Specialized Treatments
For men with more severe or treatment-resistant depression, Light-tunnel Behavioral Health Services also provides:
- Esketamine Treatment (on a case-by-case basis): This is another advanced treatment option for treatment-resistant depression that can offer rapid symptom relief for qualifying patients.
- Pharmacogenomic Testing: This genetic test helps predict how a man’s body will respond to certain medications.By personalizing medication choices, this testing can help minimize side effects and maximize benefits quickly, avoiding the lengthy trial-and-error process that can discourage men from continuing treatment.
In summary, at Light-tunnel Behavioral Health, Dr. Aragbada, the lead Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and her colleagues offer a complete spectrum of care, from evidence-based talk therapy and medication management to cutting-edge treatments like esketamine, Pharmacogenomic testing, all of which can be tailored to address the unique ways depression manifests in men.