What are the signs of depression in men?

Both men and women can experience depression, but the signs and symptoms can be different.

Although the primary symptom of depression for many is often a feeling of sadness, men may haveTrusted Source a higher tendency than women to feel anger, demonstrate aggressive feelings, and engage in substance abuse.

Due to the different symptoms, and because men are typically less likely to talk about and seek treatment for depression than women, many men may have undiagnosed depression.

In this article, we explore the emotional, behavioral, and physical signs of depression in men. We also discuss how to get help. Read on to learn how to recognize and manage depression in men.

Men and depression

Depression is common in men. According to the American Psychological Association, an estimated 9 percent of men in the United States have feelings of depression or anxiety each day, and 30.6 percent of men experience a period of depression during their lifetime.

Depression is a mood disorderTrusted Source that affects a person’s thoughts, feelings, body, and behavior. Doctors may refer to depression as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression.

Depression is more commonTrusted Source in women, affecting 10.4 percent of women compared with 5.5 percent of men in the U.S. However, the number of men who die by suicide is four times the number of women.

One of the reasons for this could be that men are less likely to get a diagnosis of depression. Depression is a significant risk factor for suicide.

Understanding how depression symptoms might differ between men and women is important. It can help make people aware of depression in themselves and their loved ones. Recognizing depression is the first step toward recovery.

Symptoms in men and women

Some symptoms of depression are the same for men and women. These include:

• feeling sad, tearful, low, guilty, or empty
• losing enjoyment in pleasurable activities
• appetite or weight changes
• too little or too much sleep
• feeling agitated or tired
• having trouble concentrating

Not everyone with depression will experience all of these symptoms.

Some symptoms of depression are more likely to affect men than women, which could be due to genetic, hormonal, biochemical, or social factors. We look at depression in men in more detail below.

Behavioral signs in men

The behavioral signs of depression can manifest differently in men and women. For instance, alcohol and drug use affect men with depression more oftenTrusted Source than women, and men are more likely than women to display anger attacks and risk-taking behavior.

Men with depression may notice the following behavioral changes:

• drinking more or taking drugs
• avoiding family or social situations
• working obsessively without taking proper breaks
• finding it hard to keep up with work or family responsibilities
• becoming more controlling or abusive in relationships
• engaging in risk-taking behavior, such as gambling or unsafe sex
• attempting suicide

One theoryTrusted Source

 is that these behavioral changes occur as a result of men trying to mask depression and adhere to so-called “masculine norms.” This attempt to conceal depression may cause men to lash out or engage in self-destructive behaviors.

Men with depression may also lose interest in their hobbies and passions or feel less motivated to succeed at work.

Depression may affect a man’s sex drive too. Men with depression may have less interest in having sex and might have trouble with sexual performance.

Emotional signs in men

Some men may find it easier to discuss physical symptoms than mood changes. However, there is a close link between the mind and body. It is vital to share all symptoms with a doctor, even if they seem insignificant or irrelevant.

Depression affects the emotional state of both men and women, causing low mood.

Women with depression may express this as sadness, but some men may be less comfortable outwardly expressing this emotion. Changes to their emotional state can, therefore, become apparent in other ways.

Early signs of depression in men can include an increase in:

• anger
• frustration
• aggression
• irritability

These differences may be due to societal expectations of how men and women express emotion. It is likely that men will be less willing to show certain emotions, such as sadness, if they feel that others may judge or criticize them for it.

Men with depression may experience thoughts of suicide.

Suicide prevention

If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:

• Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
• Listen to the person without judgment.
• Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.
• Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
• Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

Physical signs in men

Depression is a mental health condition, but it also has physical symptoms. Men with depression may experience:

• headaches
• tightness in the chest
• joint, limb, or back pain
• digestive problems
• tiredness
• sleeping too much or too little
• feeling restless or agitated
• eating too much or too little
• unintentional weight loss

Some of these symptoms may arise because of the effect that depression has on a person’s brain chemicals. Depression changes the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, which are brain messengers that govern pain and mood. Shared brain cell pathways may link depression and pain.

Why is depression in men often undiagnosed?

According to 2013–2016 figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, women are almost twice as likely to experience major depression than men. However, it is likely that more men than women avoid reporting depression, so the figures for men may be higher.

According to some estimates, two-thirdsTrusted Source of people with depression in the U.S. have not received a diagnosis.

A doctor may also misdiagnose depression in men. Men may be more likely to report physical symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping, than emotional changes. As a result, the doctor might give them the wrong diagnosis.

Furthermore, people may misinterpret common emotional or behavioral signs of depression in men. They may see anger as a personality trait instead of a sign of depression. They may also misunderstand the reasons for a person’s increased risk-taking behavior or substance use.

A 2013 studyTrusted Source used criteria to adjust for the different ways in which men and women tend to experience depression. The researchers found that depression was equally prevalent among both genders.

More research into depression and gender is necessary to confirm this.

When to see a doctor

Anyone who notices the emotional, behavioral, or physical changes that we have discussed in this article may be experiencing depression. If this is the case, it is essential to see a doctor.

The doctor can help diagnose a person’s depression and give them the right treatment to feel better.

Leaving depression untreated can harm a person’s well-being. Depression is a risk factor for suicide. Therefore, it is vital that a person with depression receives help as soon as possible.

Treatment

There are several ways to treat depression. Everyone responds to treatment differently, but a doctor can advise a person on which treatment may best suit their needs.

Treatment options include:

• medication
• talk therapy
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) 

• Alongside other treatments, certain lifestyle changes and coping strategies can help a person manage depression. For example:

  • Regular exercise: Running or even walking briskly outside can produce endorphins and lift a person’s mood.
  • Creating structure: Sticking to a daily routine may help make each day feel a little easier.
  • Breaking down tasks: When big tasks feel unmanageable, breaking them down into smaller tasks may help.
  • Yoga, mindfulness, or meditation: These practices may reduce stress and support well-being.
  • Talking to friends and family: Sharing feelings with others may make them feel less overwhelming.
  • Avoiding alcohol: Reducing alcohol intake may improve mood.

  How to help a loved one with depression

  If a person notices the signs of depression in a close male friend, partner, or family member, it is crucial to discuss this with them. Asking someone who may be experiencing depression how they are feeling is an excellent first step. Trying to be a good listener is important.

  Next, encourage them to make an appointment with their doctor. If they feel worried about discussing how they feel emotionally, remind them that they can start by talking about physical symptoms, which will often lead to a broader discussion about other symptoms.

  It is important to be patient when supporting someone with depression. Sometimes the behavioral signs of depression in men may cause relationship difficulties. Try discussing issues in a nonjudgmental way. A relationship counselor can help people improve their communication.

  Where to look for help

  Anyone who thinks that they may have depression should see a doctor for help. The doctor may refer them to a mental health specialist so that they get the right treatment.

  Anyone who feels unsafe due to suicidal thoughts should call 911 or go to the hospital.

  If a person you are close to talks about suicide, do not ignore this. Speak to their doctor or mental health specialist or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline on 1-800-622-4357 for advice.

  See the National Institute of Mental HealthTrusted Source website for more ways to get help.

  Outlook

  Signs of depression in men may differ from signs of depression in women. Men are more likely to feel anger and aggressive feelings and to engage in substance abuse or risky behaviors.

  Increased awareness of the signs of depression in men can empower those with this condition to get help.

  Seeking help for depression is essential. Suicide is a leading preventable cause of death among men. Treatment can significantly improve a man’s mental health and emotional well-being.

  Major depression, also called clinical depression, is a serious but manageable mental health condition. With treatment, a person with depression can manage their condition and stay well. People with depression can go on to make a full recovery.

• Source -  Medical News Today

COVID-19: The mental health impact on people of color and minority groups

 Some groups may face a disproportionate mental health impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include people of color, migrants, and people of various ethnic backgrounds. In this Special Feature, we dive deeper into the issue.

Coronavirus data

All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub for the most recent information on COVID-19.

The fact that the current pandemic is affecting people’s mental health as much as their physical health is no secret.

In speaking to Medical News Today, people from all over the world have reported increased levels of stress and anxiety.

Based on the known psychological effects of other events that have left a deep mark on global communities in the past, researchers warn that the COVID-19 pandemic could have dire consequences for mental health.

For instance, a position paper in The Lancet PsychiatryTrusted Source in April argues that in the wake of the pandemic, the world may face an increase in anxiety and emotional distress, as well as other severe effects on mental health.

However, although the pandemic is mentally and emotionally affecting many people all over the world, past evidence suggests that it may affect certain communities more than others — particularly because they have reduced access to mental health services and other healthcare resources.

People of color at high risk of PTSD

According to a 2008 study in the journal Health AffairsTrusted Source — which primarily discusses issues inherent to the United States — “[m]ental healthcare disparities, defined as unfair differences in access to or quality of care according to race and ethnicity, are quite common.”

“In general, minorities, particularly African Americans, have poorer health and health outcomes than do [white people],” its authors note.

Although “Hispanics and [black individuals] [have a] lower risk of having a psychiatric disorder as compared with their white counterparts, […] those who become ill tend to have more persistent disorders.”

But why do people of color and certain other ethnic groups experience more long-term effects on mental health? Also, how is this pandemic affecting their mental health, and what should decision makers do to support these communities?

We are considering these questions as part of a series of features looking at the disproportionate impact the current pandemic is having on certain groups and on issues of society-wide importance.

Previously, we looked at how the pandemic has been affecting women’s sexual and reproductive health, as well as domestic violence rates.

For this feature, we spoke to people of diverse ethnic backgrounds in the U.S., asking them about their experiences with mental health and mental healthcare.

We also looked at existing data about mental health burdens and access to healthcare for different communities in the U.S.

To begin with, past research has shown that African American, Native Hawaiian, Hispanic, and Asian individuals have higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than white individuals.

Since some specialists have already expressed concern that the current pandemic may increase the risk of PTSD in the general population, it may be that it affects people of color and those from diverse ethnic groups even more significantly.

When asked about the impact that the current pandemic has had on their mental health, one person of color told MNT: “I live with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and I’ve had both positive and negative experiences with mental health during this time.”

“I feel I’ve been relatively lucky compared [with] many other [people of color] I know, in that I have a job that allows me to work from home, so I can keep a full-time income without taking the health risk of leaving home,” they said, adding:

“I know many others don’t have the same opportunities. For example, they work in service industries where they’ve had their hours cut, or lost their jobs altogether, or they have to put themselves at risk by continuing to perform tasks that don’t allow for physical distancing.”

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), albeit incomplete, suggest that of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., 27%Trusted Source have been in black or African American individuals and 14.2% have been in people who describe their background as “multiple” or “other.”

People of diverse ethnicities also account for a large proportion of the workforce deemed “essential” during the pandemic, which means that they are more at risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus.

In fact, according to the CDC, Hispanic people form 53% of the agricultural workforceTrusted Source in the U.S., while black and African American individuals make up 30% of nurses.

The aforementioned respondent said that their family members also fall into this category.

“I have many family members working in healthcare, and they don’t have the option of staying home — which then means they have to then stay away from me and other family members to avoid passing on the risk of contracting the virus,” they told MNT.

The significant exposure of people of color to the coronavirus is likely to leave a lasting mark on their mental health: A recent study from China shows that many COVID-19 survivors face traumatic stress in the aftermath of local outbreaks.

Rise in racism a key concern

The fact that people of color and certain other ethnic groups may face a more severe and longer lasting mental health impact than white populations is, in part, explained by the fact that they are often unable to access appropriate mental healthcare.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), a large number of people in the U.S. who identify as a person of color or as belonging to a minority ethnic group experience a significant degree of marginalization and discrimination. This is a top risk factor for poor mental health outcomes in the long-term.

The APA explain that this is because discrimination and marginalization can hinder socioeconomic growth as well as access to appropriate healthcare, including formal mental health support.

Reports from 2001Trusted Source found that even when these people do access formal mental healthcare, people of color are faced with bias from health professionals, who sometimes fall short in providing the right form of intervention for them.

However, discrimination has also taken on another aspect during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the original epicenter of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was a city in China, people of Asian descent all around the world have started reporting an increase in racism and xenophobic violence.

The nongovernmental human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) have recently issued a statement expressing their concern about the rise in anti-Asian discrimination.

“Racism and physical attacks on Asians and people of Asian descent have spread with the COVID-19 pandemic, and government leaders need to act decisively to address the trend,” says John Sifton, HRW advocacy director for Asia.

In speaking to MNT, a U.S. citizen who identifies as Chinese and Asian American expressed deep concern about this intensification of racism:

“May is actually Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month, which is usually a time for us to celebrate the achievements we’ve made as a community. Instead, [it] has been an increasingly stressful time for the Asian community. Many of us have been reminded that despite being the ‘model minority,’ the title can be taken away from us and the underlying racism that we want to think we’ve moved past can come back instantly.”

Specialists have long recognized the fact that racism, discrimination, and xenophobia are particularly harmful to mental health.

In a 2018 position statement, the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the United Kingdom point out “that racism and racial discrimination is one of many factors [that] can have a significant, negative impact on a person’s life chances and mental health.”

“We are particularly concerned about the disproportionate impact on people from black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities,” they emphasize.

The language barrier and other obstacles

Besides systemic biases, discrimination, and financial barriers, another significant obstacle that sometimes stands in the way of people’s access to healthcare is language.

For example, a 2015 study in Health and Social Care in the CommunityTrusted Source found that “[l]anguage and concerns about services’ cultural and religious appropriateness” prevent a significant number of people from diverse ethnic backgrounds from receiving much-needed formal support.

In a teleconference from April 24, 2020 — sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a public health philanthropy based in Princeton, NJ — Prof. Margarita Alegría, chief of the Disparities Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, argued that language barriers can be an issue for people belonging to minority groups.

“Many linguistic minorities, especially Latinos, will not have suitable resources to really access mental healthcare and substance abuse [resources] — we already know that,” she said, after warning about the pandemic’s likely impact on the mental health of people from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

The feedback that MNT received from contributors outlines similar concerns. One person, who identifies as Hispanic and Mexican American, expressed worries about family members who may not be able to access support and accurate health information due to language barriers.

“Getting resources in Spanish at the beginning of this pandemic was tough, so I had to scavenge the internet to find reliable sources to share with my Spanish-speaking family members,” this person told us.

The gap to mental healthcare and formal social support grows even wider for those with an undocumented status.

“[Staying] at home under irritability and frustration might lead to domestic violence and child maltreatment, but people who are undocumented […] may not report [instances of domestic abuse] for fear of deportation,” Prof. Alegría warned.

“We also know that some people are not even willing to go and seek medical care because [they are] worried about the Public Charge.”

This rule indicates that the authorities can deny a person a U.S. visa or U.S. citizenship if it becomes apparent that they have accessed public health benefits while staying in the country.

Worries surrounding undocumented status also came across clearly in the response from our contributor.

“My parents have had to continue working and can’t control who they’re exposed to at work,” this person said. “That has left me uneasy about their health. They can’t telework because of their circumstance either; they’re also undocumented and have blue collar jobs.”

Cultural stigma around mental health

Stigma surrounding mental health issues in culturally homogeneous groups can also stop people from seeking the support they need.

A 2017 study in the Rand Health QuarterlyTrusted Source, for instance, found that levels of self-stigma were particularly high among Asian American and Latino participants.

“For Asian American [people], stigma appears to figure most prominently in their beliefs about the level of functioning and status of individuals with mental health problems,” the study authors write.

For Latino respondents, the level of self-stigmatization appeared to depend on whether or not the researchers conducted the interviews in English or Spanish.

The contributors who reached out to MNT also consistently expressed the burden of mental health stigma in their respective communities.

“Personally, I know I can access mental health support, but I often put it as a last priority,” said the contributor who identifies as Chinese and Asian American.

They added: “I know that a lot of the Asian community has never put mental health as a priority because it’s been seen as being weak to seek help. Asians are also split into so many different subgroups, and there are definitely certain groups that are less privileged and have less access to mental health resources (i.e., the East Asian communities).”

The respondent who identifies as Hispanic and Mexican American made a similar point about their own community:

“Many of my family in the U.S. lacks easy access to mental health support from lack of financial stability. [Mental health issues have] also been stereotyped as a sign of weakness that […] further deters them from seeking any help.”

“I wish there [were] a bigger push for mental health support at a lower cost for communities my parents are in and others throughout the U.S,” they said.

“I also wish there could be a greater focus to change the mindsets of the poorer communities from thinking that mental health is a further sign of weakness as they strive to be resilient through their socioeconomic challenges,” they added.

What is the answer?

As with all complex healthcare issues, there is no easy answer when it comes to redressing the disparities in access to formal support for people of color and those from other diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Nevertheless, where there is a will, there is a way. Both researchers and members of the public have been outlining some viable ways forward, and some employers are already making an effort to step up to the challenge.

“I feel fortunate to work where I do — a place that has provided formal opportunities for me to see to my well-being through designating company holidays, offering a therapy benefit, [and] eliminating logistical stresses that I know [other people of color] face,” one respondent told us.

“For example, I don’t have to use [paid time off] or go unpaid to take any kind of break during my workday, and I don’t ‘get to’ use [paid time off] to care for my children while school is happening at home,” they said, explaining their employer’s contribution in offsetting the mental health impact of the pandemic.

However, changes must be systemic in order to redress the balance for all communities in the U.S.

In her talk for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Prof. Alegría argued that the best way of ramping up mental health support for certain ethnic groups is both by looking at social research and by actively listening to the communities that require that support.

“Making sure that we integrate social science disciplines to understand what’s needed in each local context” is the way to go, she said.

Additionally, “[c]reating mobile teams, crisis intervention units, and especially liaison services that can operate within the community clinics” during and after the pandemic could help address those disparities, in Prof. Alegría’s opinion.

To address institutionalized racism, she went on, decision makers should focus on policy innovation with people of color and diverse communities as their focus.

To bridge the gap between undocumented migrants and access to mental healthcare through nonprofit organizations, she advised “actually [having] community health workers that are trained by licensed clinicians that can actually offer help in terms of mental health, providing support, providing evidence-based treatment, […] so that people out in the community can receive mental healthcare and substance abuse care actually in their language [from] people that they trust.”

“[We can do it] […] directly through community-based organizations that they trust. If you ask people in the community, they can tell you who are the people, the leaders they trust, and they can also tell you [which] are the community-based organizations where they feel they’re safe.”

– Prof. Margarita Alegría

Such initiatives would formalize the efforts that people from diverse communities have been making for years to help bring support to their peers.

“Online, I’m […] connected to many communities where sharing openly about mental health is the norm,” one contributor told MNT. “Since these communities have been building since long before this moment, I think it’s helped to now have support systems already in place, so I don’t feel alone when my anxiety or depression is triggered by the stress and isolation.”

“I’m a millennial, and many of my [people of color] peers are breaking away from our families’ traditional shame around mental health to facilitate sharing openly across digital spaces. So in many ways, it’s been difficult to go into physical isolation, but on the other hand, we’ve been working on this muscle of supporting each other through virtual spaces since we were teenagers,” they added.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source called for a global commitment to ramping up mental health support.

According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, “[t]he impact of the pandemic on people’s mental health is already extremely concerning.”

He has made it clear that the time to shift harmful mindsets and invest in concerted action to safeguard everyone’s well-being is now: “A failure to take people’s emotional well-being seriously will lead to long-term social and economic costs to society.”

Source - Medical News Today

Men’s mental health: ‘Man up’ is not the answer

 Surveys from around the world find that males everywhere are reluctant to talk about their mental health and are more likely to die by suicide than females. Here’s why this may be happening — and how some healthcare professionals and researchers are trying to address it.

Across the globe, among many races, ethnicities, and income brackets, males often avoidTrusted Source getting help for their psychological issues.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source, males die by suicide at twice the rate of females. And high income countries have the highest suicide rates among males.

In the United States, males make up nearly 80% of all deaths by suicide, report the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source. Males die by suicide four times more often than females do.

Mental health professionals diagnose depression more often in women than in men, according to the nonprofit Mental Health America (MHA). At the same time, the organization adds, more than 6 million American men experience symptoms of depression annually — and most go undiagnosed.

Situational stressors also play a major role in suicide deaths among males, many of whom do not have a documented mental health history, according to a 2021 analysis from the CDC.

These stressors can include anything from relationship troubles to arguments, but all indicate a need for “support during stressful transitions,” explains a press release from UCLA, the professional home of one of the report’s co-authors.

Men are less likelyTrusted Source than women to receive formal mental health support of any kind.

Recent research explains why this could be happening and suggests ways to remedy the situation.

Stigma around men’s mental health

On a daily basis, many males find themselves grappling with prescriptive, antiquated ideas about gender — and this struggle can contribute to their mental health issues.

It also explains why so many males have a difficult time admitting that they need help and pursuing it.

“Sex differences in mental health typically emerge across late childhood and adolescence,” wrote Simon Rice, an Australian mental health expert, in The Lancet Public HealthTrusted Source in 2021. “This time is also when gender norms become entrenched, persisting into later life, whereby they continue to shape mental health and help-seeking.”

In 2022, the American Journal of Public HealthTrusted Sourcepublished a review of studies dealing with the societal stigma surrounding mental illness. It found that men who internalized that stigma were less likely to get help for their psychological issues and more likely to face challenges and “a heightened risk for severe mental illness.”

Research shows that people who are treated for depression or suicidal thoughts (whether through therapyTrusted Source or medication) are far less likely to think about or attempt suicide.

Sometimes, difficulty with money or other practical issues is linked to suicidal ideation. In times of personal hardship, getting material or emotional support from others has also been shown to reduce these thoughts.

Stumbling blocks for men of color

Men of color and those with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds face additional challenges when it comes to looking after their mental health.

The National Alliance on Mental Health notes that just 1 in 3 Black adults with mental illness receives treatment, despite the fact that they are more likely to experience emotional distress than white adults. Generational racial trauma and violence against people of color, as played out in the news media, intensify this distress.

Members of the Black community may also have difficulty trusting healthcare professionals.

According to MHA, “Historical dehumanization, oppression, and violence against Black and African American people has evolved into present-day racism — structural, institutional, and individual — and cultivates a uniquely mistrustful and less affluent community experience.”

Suicide rates have gradually risen among Black and Hispanic adults in recent years, while steadily dropping among white adults, notes the CDCTrusted Source.

American Indian and Alaskan Native individuals have the highest suicide rate of any demographic group. In surveys, members of these groups are 60% more likely than white individuals to say that “everything is an effort, all the time.” Trauma and lack of resources are contributing factors.

Octavio Martinez, Jr., MD, the executive director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, says men of color are more likely to face poverty and violence, higher rates of incarceration, and fewer employment opportunities.

The effect of such disparities on their mental health is “a double whammy,” he emphasizes.

All of these issues, taken together, act as a further barrier to people of color seeking care for their mental health when they need it.

Men may have different symptoms

The same mental health issues can manifest differentlyTrusted Source in males and females. This is thought to be a possible “side effect” of their divergent views on mental health.

Males with depression may exhibit higher levels of anger, aggression, and irritability, or showcase their distress in other “culturally acceptable” ways. Females with depression may display signs of low mood instead.

Symptoms of depression in males can be physiological, such as a racing heart, digestive issues, or headaches. Males may be “more likely to see their doctor about physical symptoms than emotional symptoms,” says the National Institute of Mental HealthTrusted Source.

The organization notes that men who experience depression may self-medicate with alcohol and other substances. However, this can exacerbate their issues and put them at risk of other health conditions.

So what can mental health professionals and policymakers do to ensure that men feel confident and comfortable seeking support, and receive appropriate care?

Better mental health education

The first step in addressing mental health issues, researchers say, is expanding general awareness and education around the topic itself.

In a 2016 Canadian Family PhysicianTrusted Source essay, researchers suggested breaking down the stigma by launching national campaigns that make seeking help a sign of strength and a necessary part of caring for one’s overall health.

Community-based programs can help counter risk factors for mental health problems, particularly among elderly menTrusted Source, who may feel isolated and are more likely to attempt and die by suicide than younger men.

However, no intervention is complete until it accounts for groups that face systematic marginalization, such as men of color and those of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Specialists suggest that Black males in the U.S. may be more likely to seek support in informal settings, such as places of worship or barbershops — and they benefit from coming together and talking as a group.

Dr. Martinez promotes interventions that encourage men and boys of color and those with diverse backgrounds to connect on a personal level.

“Stigma fades when men and boys see resilience and mental health self-care modeled by their fathers, brothers, teachers, faith leaders, and friends,” he says.

Takeaway

Males are much more likely than females to die by suicide. This disparity may be due, in part, to the greater reluctance among males to seek mental health treatment and internalized expectations around “masculine behavior.”

Males who experience suicidal thoughts should know that help is available. Therapy, medication, community interventions, and real-world assistance can lessen suicidal ideation and help address depression.

Suicide prevention

If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:

• Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
• Listen to the person without judgment.
• Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.
• Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
• Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

Source - Medical News Today

Rheumatoid arthritis: How chronic inflammation affects the brain

 A recent study demonstrates how the chronic inflammation that characterizes rheumatoid arthritis affects the brain. The results may explain the cognitive symptoms described as “brain fog.”

More than 1.3 million people in the United States live with rheumatoid arthritis.

This is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system does not recognize the synovial fluid in the joints and attacks it, causing chronic inflammation.

But does this chronic inflammation also affect the brain? And if so, how?

This question prompted researchers — co-led by Andrew Schrepf and Chelsea Kaplan, from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor — to examine the brains of 54 people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Schrepf, a research investigator at Michigan Medicine’s Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, explains the motivation for the studyTrusted Source, the results of which have now been published in the journal Nature Communications.

He explains, “Even though it has been assumed for a long time that the inflammation we see in blood is impacting the brain, up until this study we didn’t know precisely where and how those changes in the brain were actually happening.”

Schrepf adds that the effects of inflammation are easier to understand when the illness is short-lived, such as in the case of the flu.

But he also notes that the researchers “wanted to understand what is happening in conditions where patients have inflammation for weeks, months, or years, such as in rheumatoid arthritis.”

Studying the brain in rheumatoid arthritis

More specifically, Schrepf and colleagues wanted to see how the peripheral inflammation that is a hallmark of arthritis affects the structure and connectivity of the brain.

To this end, they used functional MRI and structural MRI to scan the brains of 54 participants aged 43–66. Brain scans were taken both at the beginning of the study and 6 months later.

The study participants had lived with rheumatoid arthritis for an average period ranging between 2.85 years and over 20 years.

“We took the levels of inflammation in their peripheral blood, just as it would be done clinically by a rheumatologist to monitor the severity of their disease and how it’s being controlled,” Schrepf explains.

“We found profound and consistent results in a couple [of] areas of the brain that were becoming connected to several brain networks. We then looked again 6 months later and saw similar patterns, and this replication of results is not that common in neuroimaging studies.”

To investigate how inflammation affects patterns of functional connectivity in more detail, the researchers examined the connections between 264 brain regions.

Findings could explain ‘brain fog’

“In a graph theoretical analysis across the whole brain network, and correlating that with levels of inflammation, we saw a lot of convergence across methods and time points for the amount of connectivity in the inferior parietal lobule and medial prefrontal cortex,” explains Kaplan, an anesthesiology research fellow at Michigan Medicine.

The inferior parietal lobule is a brain area found at the intersection between the visual, auditory, and somatosensory cortices. It is key in visuospatial processing.

The role of the medial prefrontal cortex is not as clear. Some scientists suggest that it helps us to make decisions and retrieve information from our long-term memory, while others believe that it helps us to consolidate new memories in the short-term.

Speaking about the findings, Kaplan says that they “showed us that the brain doesn’t operate in isolation.”

“[The findings] also demonstrated how inflammation we measure in the periphery may be actually altering functional connections in the brain and playing a role in some of the cognitive symptoms we see in rheumatoid arthritis.”

Chelsea Kaplan

Indeed, many people with rheumatoid arthritis have reported feeling that they have a “brain fog,” making it difficult for them to think, concentrate, and learn new things.

StudiesTrusted Source support this anecdotal evidence, confirming that there is “significant” cognitive impairment in rheumatoid arthritis.

Study co-author author Neil Basu, Ph.D., of the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, says, “By relating these advanced neuroimaging measures back to the patient experience, we provide evidence that the future targeting of central inflammatory pathways may greatly enhance the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.”

“This intriguing data supports the idea that rheumatoid arthritis inflammation targets the brain and not just the joints.”

Neil Basu, Ph.D.

Source - Medical News Today