Men More Likely to Suppress Depression

Apocalypse Suicide Page
Good Mood
Living with Depression
Mental Health Recovery
NIMH
SHOCKED! ECT

HealthyPlace.com Radio
Depression Support Groups

Books on Depression
Conference Transcripts
Depression Videos
Diaries - Journals
Disorders Definitions
Mental Health News
Online Depression Tests
Psychiatric Medications
Resources
Site Map

Email
ICQ
Instant Messenger

Visit and Post

Abuse
ADD/ADHD
Addictions
Anxiety-Panic
Bipolar
Eating Disorders
Personality Disorders
Self-Injury

send this page to a friend

Men More Likely to Suppress Depression

(August 23, 2007) -- While sitting down to simply talk about daily troubles may seem like a perfectly normal activity for women, many men are reluctant to share their feelings in the same way.

Men often have the reputation of bottling up their emotions. These undisclosed feelings can sometimes turn into feelings of depression.

For years, health surveys have showed that men prefer to figure out problems on their own: to tough it out by themselves.

However, today more and more men are seeking help for depression.

"I think the stereotype regarding men having problems discussing feelings is true. I think our group is almost a last resort for some men who are feeling helpless. It's somewhere for them to go when they know they need to get help," Brian James, facilitator for HOPE (Helping Other People Excel), said.

Mental illness, including depression, affects millions of Americans every year. Though women experience depression at double the rate of men, men are three times as likely to commit suicide than women, according to the Nutritional Health Center. "The main thing we try to do at our group is educate and make people aware of mental illness. You should never tell a depressed person that they should just snap out of it or that they shouldn't have thoughts of suicide. The first step to coping with depression is acknowledging that there is a problem," Steve West, co-president of the National Voice on Mental Illness (NAMI), said.

According to the National Institution of Mental Health, Depression can lead to a 30 percent drop in productivity and work performance in men.

"Depression can lead to a lot of problems in work and social lives of those who are depressed. Support groups like ours help people deal with education and job issues," West said. Symptoms of depression differ greatly between men and women.

Depressed men tend to blame others, have anger, irritability and ego inflation, feel suspicious and guarded, create conflict, have restlessness and agitation and have a fear of failure, according to Dr. Bob Murray, founder of the Uplift Program.

Women on the other hand, tend to self-blame, feel sad and apathetic, avoid conflict, procrastination and sleep too much when depressed, according to Murray.

For those feeling depressed, groups such as HOPE and NAMI can be a huge help. However, individuals should also seek professional help such as a counselor or therapist.

"Before you can really get the help you need, you have to get diagnosis from a professional to assess your individual situation," West said.

By: Krisi Kawanna
Source: Daily Vidette Online

Last updated: 08/07

Men More Likely to Suppress Depression

Related Stories