They say boys don’t cry, but studies show they are often depressed…
Every year, about six million American men are diagnosed with depression. Yet these numbers may not tell the whole story. Because men may be reluctant to discuss depression with a health care professional, many go undiagnosed and consequently untreated.
In support of Men’s Health Month in June, please encourage the men in your life to take a free, online self-assessment for depression. The Department of Defense is offering anonymous mental health and alcohol self-assessments for service members and their families to help them identify their own symptoms and access assistance before a problem becomes serious. The self-assessments are available year-round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, either online at www.MilitaryMentalHealth.org or by phone at 877-877-3647.
Some of the symptoms of male depression include:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
- Feelings of pessimism and/or hopelessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed
- Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”
- Restlessness, irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Appetite and/or weight changes
Screenings are a part of Military Pathways (formerly the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program), a voluntary, anonymous mental health and alcohol self-assessment and referral program offered to military families and service members affected by deployment. It is offered online and by phone 24/7, as well as through in-person events. This program is offered without charge through the DoD’s Force Health Protection and Readiness, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs.