Depression in men
An article written Leonie Young, CEO beyondblue
In Australia, depression affects over a million people each year, and anxiety affects more than two million. While women have higher rates of depression and anxiety, men are less likely to talk about feeling depressed, less likely to seek help, more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs to try to make themselves feel better and are at a higher risk of suicide.
Around one in eight men in Australia will experience depression in their lifetime, and one in four men will experience an anxiety disorder. If it’s not you, it could be someone you know – a mate, co-worker, partner or family member.
Depression is more than just a low mood – it’s a serious illness. While we all feel sad, moody or low from time to time, some people experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time and often without an obvious reason. People with depression often find it hard to function every day, are physically unwell and may no longer feel like participating in social or sporting activities they once enjoyed. However, effective treatments are now available and with the right treatment, most people recover.
When beyondblue was established 10 years ago, our aim was to create a national voice to raise awareness of depression, anxiety and related disorders in Australia, and reduce the associated stigma.
Recent research conducted by beyondblue found that people’s awareness of depression is growing, attitudes towards depression are improving and importantly, awareness among men has increased significantly. More men are becoming aware that depression is a major mental health problem; and among men who have experienced depression, more are seeking help.
In 2009, more than half of the men surveyed (54 per cent) were able to identify depression as a major mental health problem. This is a significant increase, from 41 per cent of men in 2002. In 2009, 82 per cent of men who had experienced depression sought help however five years earlier, in 2004, that figure was 76 per cent.
While it is clear that good progress is being made, there is still much work to be done. It is vital that our efforts are strengthened and that our work continues. In late 2008, the beyondblue Board made the decision to extend beyondblue’s work for a further five-year term, to 2015. beyondblue also has the ongoing support of the Federal, State and Territory Governments to continue.
With this, and with the assistance of funding provided by Movember, beyondblue continues to raise awareness and provide support for men and conduct a broad range of initiatives, programs and projects for men’s health – from the beyondblue 24/7 info line; to Men’s Sheds and Spaces; to programs in sport, rural areas and Indigenous communities and access to free resources.
You can read more about these in on our website www.beyondblue.org.au
In Australia, depression affects over a million people each year, and anxiety affects more than two million. While women have higher rates of depression and anxiety, men are less likely to talk about feeling depressed, less likely to seek help, more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs to try to make themselves feel better and are at a higher risk of suicide.
Around one in eight men in Australia will experience depression in their lifetime, and one in four men will experience an anxiety disorder. If it’s not you, it could be someone you know – a mate, co-worker, partner or family member.
Depression is more than just a low mood – it’s a serious illness. While we all feel sad, moody or low from time to time, some people experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time and often without an obvious reason. People with depression often find it hard to function every day, are physically unwell and may no longer feel like participating in social or sporting activities they once enjoyed. However, effective treatments are now available and with the right treatment, most people recover.
When beyondblue was established 10 years ago, our aim was to create a national voice to raise awareness of depression, anxiety and related disorders in Australia, and reduce the associated stigma.
Recent research conducted by beyondblue found that people’s awareness of depression is growing, attitudes towards depression are improving and importantly, awareness among men has increased significantly. More men are becoming aware that depression is a major mental health problem; and among men who have experienced depression, more are seeking help.
In 2009, more than half of the men surveyed (54 per cent) were able to identify depression as a major mental health problem. This is a significant increase, from 41 per cent of men in 2002. In 2009, 82 per cent of men who had experienced depression sought help however five years earlier, in 2004, that figure was 76 per cent.
While it is clear that good progress is being made, there is still much work to be done. It is vital that our efforts are strengthened and that our work continues. In late 2008, the beyondblue Board made the decision to extend beyondblue’s work for a further five-year term, to 2015. beyondblue also has the ongoing support of the Federal, State and Territory Governments to continue.
With this, and with the assistance of funding provided by Movember, beyondblue continues to raise awareness and provide support for men and conduct a broad range of initiatives, programs and projects for men’s health – from the beyondblue 24/7 info line; to Men’s Sheds and Spaces; to programs in sport, rural areas and Indigenous communities and access to free resources.
You can read more about these in on our website www.beyondblue.org.au
