Dealing with Depression: Men Less Likely to Seek Help

First Posted: Aug 29, 2013 12:18 PM EDT
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A new study estimates that though women are two times more likely than men to suffer from depression, recent information suggest that men may not have been opening up enough or asking the right questions regarding their mental health, ranging from crying to trouble sleeping, gambling, substance abuse, or womanizing.

Lead study author Lisa Martin, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan in Dearborn, discusses the factors typed into various symptoms, including how 30 percent of both men and women may become depressed at some point in their lives.

The study looked at 3,310 women and 2,382 men based at the university specifically regarding different gender traits invovling depression.

Previous studies show men and women will not necessarily deal with depression the same way or exhibit similar symptoms.

"If we can get men who have depression to recognize it in themselves and get treatment, that is really significant," Martin said, via USA Today, adding that depressed men are less likely than depressed women to seek treatment as they may see it as a sign of weakness.

Yet for men that do find themselves seeking help, it is often because a partner or spouse has requested it as an ultimatum for their relationship, threating a divorce or separation if no improvement is reached.

Study authors hope that with breaking down the stereotypes and a better understanding into the opposite sexes depression, more treatments can be provided and made more easily available.

More information regarding the study can be found via The Lancet

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