Men and Mental Health: The Underlying Causes
Depression is often positioned as a woman’s disease, in part due to the recognition of a lower incidence of depression among men compared to women. However, downstream indicators including men’s self-harm and suicide suggest that depression may be less often diagnosed because men tend to deny illness, self-monitor and treat symptoms, and avoid health services or have difficulty engaging care providers. As a result, men’s depression, including how to identify and treat it, is poorly understood.