Men’s mental health issues often go undiagnosed due to social biases, says expert

The suicide rate among men is four times higher than it is for women.  That’s according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and National Institute of Mental Health.

Detroit-based Psychologist Denise Davis says she has seen an increase in male clientele, but mood disorders and depression still goes undiagnosed or ignored among men.

Mental illnesses, like depression, are often caught first by a primary care physician. Davis says most men often see male doctors, who often don’t have the skills to catch the signs.

“The problem doesn’t get caught as quickly as [it would] with women,” Davis said. “Women are more in tune to their emotions. And of course we are speaking in general terms. But that’s not something men generally feel the need for or would detect in themselves. That’s often left up to primary care physicians and primary care physicians are just not in touch with that, primarily male physicians.”

Davis says social biases play a huge part in that phenomenon.

Clichés like “men don’t cry” or “suck it up” or that vulnerability is weakness contribute to men not often paying attention to symptoms of depression.

“Male physician might even tell their patients, ‘oh don’t worry about it, it’ll be over, just go out there and do what you do,’” Davis said. “And that’s just not the answer to many of the issues and challenges that men face on a day-to-day basis.”

Davis said she believes the pandemic also contributed to an increase in mental issues with men. Men often like to avoid issues by diving into work as a distraction as it gives them something productive to do.

“During the pandemic, we were restricted from out movement. And I think that caused a lot men a great deal of anxiety that they were unable to hide,” said Davis.

Davis said men are also problem solvers.

”Men also like to answer questions. They like to be the person to go to and get an answer. And no one had answers for the pandemic.”

Davis encourages men to seek help and not be ashamed by it.

“I have [a] sign that says ‘anxiety and depression are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of being too strong for too long alone.’”

Use the media player above to hear the full interview with Davis.