DEPRESSION IN MEN

Depression can affect men, women and children differently.  Men and women both experience depression but their willingness to talk about their feelings may be very different. This is one of the reasons depression symptoms for men and women may be very different as well. For example, some men with depression hide their emotions and may seem to be angry, irritable and aggressive while many women seem sad or express sadness. Men with depression may feel very tired and lose interest in work, family or hobbies. They may be more likely to have difficulty sleeping than women who have depression.

Sometimes mental health symptoms appear to be physical issues. For example; a racing heart, tightening chest, ongoing headaches, or digestive issues can be signs of a mental health problem. Many men are more likely to see their doctor about physical symptoms than emotional symptoms. Some men may turn to drugs or alcohol to try to cope with their emotional symptoms. Also, while women with depression are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to die by suicide because they tend to use more lethal methods.

Some symptoms of depression in men may include;

• Emotional: feeling empty, sad, hopeless
• Behavioural: loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favourite activities, feeling tired easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs, engaging in high-risk activities
• Sexual: reduced sexual desire, lack of sexual performance
• Sleep: insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not sleeping through the night
• Physical: fatigue, pains, headache, digestive problems