Guys! Don’t be Afraid to Reach Out & Ask For Help






According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-24 and 25-34 (2017). NIMH also reports that men in both those age groups are shown to have higher suicide rates than women in those age groups (2017). Even though men are shown to have higher suicide rates, men strangely have the lowest rates of depression (NIMH, 2017). Obviously, this is a strange discrepancy, somehow men are suffering less from depression but taking their lives more than women. According to the American Psychological Association, men are less likely to report that they are suffering from depression and less likely to pursue treatment for depression (2005). That's why it’s important that if you think you may be suffering from depression to seek help. Hopefully, by reading this blog you can be more familiar with what depression is, the types of depression, the signs and symptoms, and where you can find help to recover.

Types of Depression
Depression is a very complex illness with different variations. The three most common types of depression are major depression, dysthymic disorder/dysthymia, and minor depression (NIMH, 2013). Major depression is described as having severe symptoms of depression that affect your ability to do everyday tasks and keep up with your daily routine (NIMH, 2013). Major depression happens in episodes, a person may only have one episode in their lifetime, or several throughout their lifetime (NIMH, 2013). Dysthymic disorder/dysthymia is described as having symptoms of depression that last for 2 years or longer but are less severe than major depressive symptoms (NIMH, 2013). Lastly minor depression is described as having symptoms of depression that are less severe than the previous two types (NIMH, 2013).

Signs and Symptoms
There are many signs and symptoms of depression and not everyone will have the same experience (NIMH, 2013). Here is a list of some symptoms: losing interest in daily tasks and activities, an inability to keep up with everyday responsibilities, feeling very tired, feeling irritable, feeling anxious, not being able to sleep, sleeping too much, overeating, not eating at all, concentration issues, memory issues, stomach issues, aches, pain, cramps, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and/or feelings of worthlessness for long periods of time like weeks, months, or longer (NIMH, 2013).

Other symptoms of depression may be loss of energy, feelings of hopelessness, feelings of guilt, feelings of emptiness, confidence issues, self-esteem issues, trying to harm yourself, and/or isolating yourself from friends and family (Young Men’s Health (YMH), 2016). Men are more likely to exhibit the following symptoms: drug and alcohol abuse, spending more time at work, and exhibiting controlling, violent, abusive, and/or reckless behavior (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016).

Why It’s Often Not Diagnosed in Men
Men may not realize they are depressed. They might just think that they are just sad or in a rut (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016). Also, in many men feeling depressed isn’t the only symptom, they may also experience symptoms that they feel are more concerning to them, like stomach issues or an inability to focus (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016). Lastly, some men may feel uncomfortable or delay seeking help for depression because of social norms and society’s view of how men are supposed to handle their emotions (Oliffe Et. al, 2010). If you are not sure if you are suffering from depression or are just curious you can take some self-screening tests offered by our on campus Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) here.

Where you can get help
CSULB offers the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), which is located in Brotman Hall in room 226, or call CAPS at (562) 985-4001. Most universities offer these types of services because young adults are often undergoing a variety of life changes and even mental health issues. CSULB Student Health Services also offers mental health medication care and a case manager if you need referrals to off campus counseling. Call (562) 985-4771 for more information.

References
American Psychological Association. (2005). Men: a different depression. Retrieved from
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Male depression: Understanding the issues. Retrieved from
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2013). Men and Depression. Retrieved from
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2017). Major Depression. Retrieved from
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2017). Suicide. Retrieved from
Oliffe, J. L., Robertson, S., Kelly, M. T., Roy, P., & Ogrodniczuk, J. S. (2010). Connecting
masculinity and depression among international male university students. Qualitative Health Research, 20(7), 988-989. DOI: 10.1177/1049732310365700
Young Men’s Health (YMH)/Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston
Children’s Hospital. (2016). Depression and Teens: A Guide for Parents. Retrieved from

By Jerome Livsey-Herd


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