| U.S.
government launches campaign to highlight depression among men as
a public health issue The National Institute of Mental Health, one of the National Institutes of Health, has launched the first U.S. campaign to raise awareness that depression is a major public health problem in men, affecting roughly 6 million annually. Research suggests that men are less likely to seek treatment for depression than women, and data show that men die by suicide at 4 times the rate of women. The public health education campaign features the personal stories of actual men who live with depression: a firefighter, a national diving champion, a retired Air Force sergeant, a lawyer, a publisher, and a college student. "For generations men have been told that they have to act tough," said U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona. "Today we're saying to men, it's okay to talk to someone about what you're thinking, or how you're feeling, or if you're hurting. We are attacking the stigma that tough guys can't seek help. They can and they should." Research indicates that depression affects twice as many women as men. However, research and clinical findings reveal that women and men may perceive and talk differently about the symptoms of depression. Men may not recognize irritability, sleep problems, loss of interest in work or hobbies, or withdrawal as signs of depression. This may contribute to a lower proportion of affected men recognizing their depression and seeking treatment. "This campaign is aimed at men. The hope here is to address men who have depression," said Thomas Insel, MD, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health. "Men who may not even recognize that depression is the problem or that much can be done to help them. Effective treatments are available and the success rate is very high -- more than 80 percent -- for people who seek help." The primary message of the media announcements is that it takes courage to ask for help. "This is an important area of research," said Dennis Charney, MD. "We need to understand how men respond to stress and symptoms associated with depression, and how to alert physicians to better recognize and treat depressive disorders in men." "Men lead very complex lives, balancing many responsibilities," Insel said. "Depression can impair their ability to be successful." Additional information about the campaign
is available at the web site of the National Institute of Mental
Health, http://www.nimh.nih.gov
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