Triggers for depression in men
There's no single cause of depression in men. Biological, psychological, and social factors all play a part, as do lifestyle choices, relationships, and coping skills.
While any man can suffer from depression, there are some risk factors that make a man more vulnerable, such as:
Loneliness and lack of social support
Inability to effectively deal with stress
A history of alcohol or drug abuse
Early childhood trauma or abuse
Tips for helping a loved one
Updated: 2 minutes ago
If there’s a man in your life who you suspect has difficulties with their mental wellbeing, there are some practical steps you can take to help him, including the following.
Look out for symptoms
The symptoms of depression in men and women include:
Saying that they feel very sad, empty or hopeless
Extreme tiredness
Problems sleeping or sleeping too much
Why do men struggle to seek help for their mental health?
As with the causes of depression and anxiety, there are different reasons why men are less likely to seek help.
The Get It Off Your Chest Report highlights that men are “less knowledgeable about mental health and hold more negative attitudes” and that they are more likely to describe mental health problems as resulting from “lack of self-discipline and willpower”. This attitude is tied to traditional ideas about masculinity, and the stigma many men feel about talking openly about their feelings.
Other factors include:
Embarrassment
Fear
Lack of information about where to get help
How to support men around you with their mental health
Stress, anxiety and depression can affect everyone regardless of gender. But there’s no denying that for men, poor mental health is more likely to lead to tragedy
We know that you’re more likely to experience depression if you have a close family member who has had depression in the past. However, the most significant factors in poor mental health will be life events in childhood or adulthood, such as:
Abuse or neglect
Physical or sexual assault
Loss of a loved one
Unemployment
