Is depression different for men?
Some symptoms are more common in men – irritability, risk-taking, sudden anger, and aggression.
These are not exclusive to men though.
Men are less likely to talk, and more likely to reach for alcohol or drugs for support.
If you suspect someone is struggling, here’s how you could help;
- Listen without judgment
- Talk side-by-side if eye contact is difficult. Car journeys and walks can help encourage people to talk.
- Encourage reaching out to their Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) at work for anonymous support.
Food
What you eat can also affect mental health. The famous SMILEs trial identified 32% of participants were in remission of major depression (compared to 8% in the control group) when they ate similar to a Mediterranean-style diet.
The suggested diet included;
- Daily – whole grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts, dairy, olive oil
- Weekly – legumes, lean red meat, 2 x fish, 2-3 poultry, 6 eggs
Men’s Sheds
You may also want to look into Men’s Sheds https://menssheds.org.uk/ in their local area.
Men’s Sheds are a great initiative that a webinar attendee shared with me during one of the Men’s Health webinars I delivered. In Men’s Health webinars we talk about male mental health, heart health, and prostate health.
That’s three BIG areas of male health.
I’ve heard many men take action after the webinar and I think that has a lot to do with the ‘male mid-life checklist’ slide. The tests you should be asking your Doctor for.
Get It Off Your Chest
MIND produced a male mental health report called Get It Off Your Chest. Their survey identified 43% of men regularly feel worried or low, and 37% say social media has a negative impact on how they feel. Deprivation, financial insecurity, and unmanageable debt are also factors.
What’s your organisation doing to support #Movember and build awareness of men’s health?
Contact info@natural-alternative.co.uk if you would like further information about Men’s Health webinar.
