Men's Depression Often Passes Unnoticed in Healthcare

[2012.05.14] Depression is a major cause of sick leave and a growing threat to public health. Twice as many women as men are diagnosed, yet many researchers believe that men’s depression often passes through the healthcare system unnoticed. In addition, it is more difficult for men to ask for help.

‘Men do not call the doctor to the same as extent as women. Asking for help is often associated with weakness and is not compatible with the male gender role, as being a man generally implies that you are supposed to be strong and persistent,’ says Mats Hilte, Docent (Reader) in Social Work at Lund University.
He feels that the male norm is grossly simplified and that the view of masculinity should be problematised to a larger extent.
‘The discussion about men is largely focused on power and dominance, but many men have a sense of powerlessness, which is a sense that is hard to admit and formulate in words.’

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