Only 60% of depressed men go for treatment, but over 72% of women obtain help. And while 9% of women make use of outpatient mental health services, only 5% of men do so. When it comes to prescription medication for mental illness, men are even less likely to participate.
Full Answer
How do men and women differ in treatment for depression?
Also, while women with depression are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to die by suicide because they tend to use more lethal methods. Depression can affect any man at any age. With the right treatment, most men with depression can get better and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies.
What percentage of men suffer from depression in their lifetime?
Women are almost twice as likely as men to have had depression. (Centers for Disease Control “Prevalence of Depression Among Adults 20 and Over: United States, 2013-2016”, 2017) Postpartum mood changes can range from transient “blues” immediately following childbirth to an episode of major depression and even to severe, incapacitating, psychotic depression.
Are men less likely to seek mental health help than women?
Dec 31, 2015 · Depression is diagnosed about twice as often in women as men (Parker & Brotchie, 2010), suggesting that men may feel uncomfortable seeking help for what is often seen as a feminine problem. Furthermore, men who seek help for a mental health concern other than depression may relegate any comorbid depression to a secondary concern rather than the …
Is major depressive disorder more common in men or women?
Apr 01, 2014 · A 2008 meta-analysis ( 7) including 83 controlled clinical trials of psychotherapy for depression in which a psychological treatment was compared with a control condition found no association between effect size and gender, with one exception: women with postpartum depression had higher (better) effect sizes than other women.
Why are men more likely to die from depression?
Also, while women with depression are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to die by suicide because they tend to use more lethal methods. Depression can affect any man at any age. With the right treatment, most men with depression can get better and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies. "My daily routine was shot.
Why do men get depression?
Environmental Stress— financial problems, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, major life changes, work problems, or any stressful situation may trigger depression in some men. Illness —depression can occur with other serious medical illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or Parkinson’s disease.
How long does it take for depression to pass?
Everyone feels sad or irritable and has trouble sleeping once in a while. But these feelings and troubles usually pass after a couple of days. Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that may cause severe symptoms. Depression affects the ability to feel, think, and handle daily activities. Also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, a man must have symptoms for at least two weeks to be diagnosed with depression.
How long does it take for antidepressants to work?
Medications called antidepressants can work well to treat depression, but they can take several weeks to be effective. Often with medication, symptoms such as sleep, appetite, and concentration problems improve before mood lifts, so it is important to give medication a chance before deciding whether it is effective or not.
How long does it take to stop taking antidepressants?
When it is time to stop the medication, usually after a course of 6 to 12 months, the doctor will help you slowly and safely decrease your dose. Stopping them abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms.
What is seasonal affective disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder —characterized by depression symptoms that appear every year during the winter months when there is less natural sunlight. Persistent depressive disorder (also called dysthymia)—depressive symptoms that last a long time (2 years or longer) but are less severe than those of major depression.
What are the most common types of depression?
The most common types of depression are: Major depression —depressive symptoms that interfere with a man's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy most aspects of life. An episode of major depression may occur only once in a person's lifetime. But it is common for a person to have several episodes.
How many people are affected by depression?
Who Is Affected by Depression? Major depressive disorder affects approximately 17.3 million American adults, or about 7.1% of the U.S. population age 18 and older, in a given year. (National Institute of Mental Health “Major Depression”, 2017) Major depressive disorder is more prevalent in women than in men.
How much does depression cost?
Depression contributes to the estimated $100 billion annual cost of depression for U.S. employers, including $44 billion a year in lost productivity alone. (Beck et al., 2014; Stewart, Ricci, Chee, Hahn, & Morganstein, 2003)
How long does it take for depression to go away?
Up to 80% of those treated for depression show an improvement in their symptoms generally within four to six weeks of beginning medication, psychotherapy, attending support groups or a combination of these treatments. (National Institute of Health, 1998)
Why do people stop taking depression medication?
Patients stop taking their medication too soon due to unacceptable side effects, financial factors, fears of addiction and/or short-term improvement of symptoms , leading them to believe that continuing treatment is unnecessary.
What is the leading cause of disability in the U.S.?
Neuropsychiatric disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. with major depressive disorder being the most common (National Institute of Mental Health, “U.S. Leading Categories of Diseases/Disorders,” 2013) Mental Health (Depression, grief, and behavioral conduct) is the second leading workplace concern, following only family issues.
What is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34?
Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. 2018)
Is major depressive disorder more prevalent in women than men?
Major depressive disorder is more prevalent in women than in men. (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2003; Jun 18; 289 (23): 3095-105)
How many men in the US have mental health issues?
While over 14% of men in the US experience a mental health issue, very few of them get help. Only 60% of depressed men go for treatment, but over 72% of women obtain help. And while 9% of women make use of outpatient mental health services, only 5% of men do so. When it comes to prescription medication for mental illness, ...
Why are men less likely to take prescription medication?
When it comes to prescription medication for mental illness, men are even less likely to participate. While 16% of women use prescription medication to improve their mental health, only 9% of men do so. This is, in part, because so few men actually go for help. It’s also because they don’t always follow the course of treatment offered by a counselor.
Why do men need to be raised?
Some experts believe that men are raised to put less trust into others. Opening up to a therapist or counselor takes a great deal of trust- and some men are unable to put that much trust into one person. Even if they seek help, they may keep much of their experiences to themselves.
What does it mean when a man feels depressed?
Often, they are out of touch with their emotions. A man who feels depressed might not realize it. He may have been taught to suppress his emotions, and so as an adult doesn’t understand the depth of his sadness. Suppressing tears and sadness his whole life became the norm, so he stopped realizing what he was feeling.
Why do men avoid seeking help?
Men often avoid seeking help until there is a major crisis. What are some of the consequences of this? For one, there’s a high rate of suicide among males. Men die as a result of suicide 3.5 times more frequently than women. In 2015, seven out of every ten suicides were committed by white men.
Is it common for older men to seek counseling?
But for some reason, older men seeking counseling is more common than younger men. Men over 50 are more likely to get help than their younger counterparts. They may care less about what others think, or they may understand the importance of getting help.
Do men go to counseling?
It’s a sad fact that men don’t go to counseling as often as they should. In fact, there are very few men seeking counseling for their mental health. Find out about the alarming statistics and why so few men get the help that they need.
Women Were More Likely Than Men to Have Received Any Mental Health Treatment.
- Nearly one in four women received any mental health treatment (24.7%) in the past 12 months, compared with 13.4% of men (Figure 2).
- Women were more likely than men to have taken medication for their mental health (20.6% and 10.7%, respectively) and to have received counseling or therapy from a mental health profess…
- Nearly one in four women received any mental health treatment (24.7%) in the past 12 months, compared with 13.4% of men (Figure 2).
- Women were more likely than men to have taken medication for their mental health (20.6% and 10.7%, respectively) and to have received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional (11.7%...
Summary
- In 2019, 19.2% of U.S. adults received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months, including 15.8% who had taken prescription medication for their mental health and 9.5% who had received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional. While the percentage of adults who had taken medication for their mental health increased with age, the percentage who had re…
Definitions
- Any mental health treatment: A composite measure of adults who reported having taken medication for their mental health, received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional, or both in the past 12 months. Race and Hispanic origin: Adults categorized as Hispanic may be of any race or combination of races. Adults categorized as non-Hispanic white …
Data Source and Methods
- Data from the 2019 NHIS were used for this analysis. NHIS is a nationally representative household survey of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is conducted continuously throughout the year by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Interviews are conducted in respondents’ homes, but follow-ups to complete interviews may be conducted over the teleph…
About The Authors
- Emily P. Terlizzi and Benjamin Zablotsky are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics.
References
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Healthexternal...
- American Psychiatric Association. DSM–IV: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC. 1994.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Healthexternal...
- American Psychiatric Association. DSM–IV: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC. 1994.
- Eaton NR, Keyes KM, Krueger RF, Balsis S, Skodol AE, Markon KE, et al. An invariant dimensional liability model of gender differences in mental disorder prevalence: Evidence from a national sample....
- MacKenzie CS, Gekoski WL, Knox VJ. Age, gender, and the underutilization of mental health services: The influence of help-seeking attitudes. Aging Ment Health 10(6):574–82. 2006.
Suggested Citation
- Terlizzi EP, Zablotsky B. Mental health treatment among adults: United States, 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 380. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.