Depression in men can be a serious matter
BOSTON, MA — Depression is sometimes called the common cold of mental health, but it's unlike the common cold in at least two important respects: It doesn't go away in a week without treatment, and it doesn't affect men and women equally or in the same ways. Though depression seems to affect more women than men, it presents special problems for men, reports the November issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter.
In the United States, about half as many men as women are diagnosed as being seriously depressed at some time in their lives. But this relatively low rate could be an illusion. Men often don't like to admit that they are depressed, so they are more likely to withdraw into silent misery or hide depression under anger, irritability, alcoholism, or drug abuse.