Men’s health Emotional wellbeing
It’s a man thing
Depression isn’t just for women. Here’s how to spot the signs in men – and what you can do to help yourself (or a friend)
According to the World Health Organization, depression is predicted to become the second leading cause of global disability by 2020, and is twice as common in women than men. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a problem for men. In fact the Royal College of
Psychiatrists believes men seem to suffer from depression just as often as women – but they’re less likely to ask for help with it. And according to the Men’s Health Forum, every year one in four men faces a mental health problem such as depression or anxiety – that means the odds are 3/1 that at least one player on every five-a-side team is wrestling with a mental health problem. So how can you tell the difference
between normal feelings such as being a bit fed up or annoyed and being depressed? After all, everyone feels down for a day or two from time to time. It’s normal when you feel like that for a good reason and your feelings don’t take over your life or last for a long time. But if you feel down or miserable for
longer, or you start feeling much worse, it can start to affect every area of your life. And that’s when you may need to do something about it.
for instance – try to fit some time in your day for it, every day.
• Stay active and eat as healthily as you can, even if you don’t feel particularly hungry. These two things alone can make a big difference to how quickly you’ll start feeling like yourself again.
• Stay away from alcohol, which may make you feel better initially but can make you more down in the long run.
• Take it easy on yourself, especially if you’re a perfectionist and tend to set yourself unrealistic goals.
How to help yourself If you think you may be depressed it’s important to see your GP – and the sooner you get some help to tackle the problem, the quicker your recovery can be. There are also some things you can do to help yourself:
• Don’t bottle things up – talk to someone about your feelings, or try writing down how you feel.
• Make time for fun. If there’s something you enjoy doing – a hobby,
If you’re aware that one of your mates has depression or another mental health problem, ask them how they’re doing. The Men’s Health Forum recommends not making a big deal of how they’re feeling – but not making light of it either. Just be there for them, and ask if you can do anything to help. Alternatively ask them for help with something – fixing your car or walking your dog, for instance – as feeling needed makes everyone feel better about themselves.
Spotting the signs The signs of depression in men are the same as in women, and can include:
• Feeling unhappy, down, miserable • Not being able to enjoy anything • Feeling pessimistic or hopeless • Worrying about everything • Not being able to concentrate • Having problems sleeping • Changes in your appetite (which may lead to weight loss or gain) • Seeming more withdrawn than usual • Not looking after yourself or your home properly
However, men have different ways of coping with the symptoms of depression than women. They may drink and use illegal drugs more heavily, whereas women tend to talk about their feelings more than men. The Men’s Health Forum also recommends watching out for extremes
compared to typical behaviour. This may include things like mood swings or being unusually angry or aggressive, or wanting to go out or be alone much more than normal.
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