Men's Mental Health: Warning Signs Often Missed or Hidden

FIND THE NEAREST BANYAN LOCATION

Banyan Treatment Centers

Mental Health Care Nationwide

• Accepting Admissions Now

Mental Health Addiction	Yes Yes
Inpatient Outpatient Telehealth	Yes Yes Some States*
Dual diagnosis	Yes — integrated
Accreditation	Joint Commission

Verify Insurance - Free

Call (855) 722-6926

Find Facilities Near You

Most insurances accepted

If you or someone you know is in crisis, confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 · 24/7

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne
Chief Medical Officer

At Banyan Treatment Centers, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne leads our nationwide clinical team with over a decade of addiction medicine experience, helping ensure evidence-based, compassionate care across every level of treatment.

Sources

What you will learn

Author / Written by: Banyan Editorial Staff
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne, CMO
Updated on: April 2026

MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT — NATIONWIDE

Why Men's Mental Health Often Goes Unrecognized and Untreated

Both men and women can experience mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety and trauma. But the way the conditions present is often different in either sex. That, coupled with societal messaging many receive, often leads men to ignore their concerns or try to cope with them independently.

It's common for men to initially dismiss a mental health concern or for them to look to an external source of the problem. For example, men with depression may experience physical symptoms such as stomachaches or headaches, which they may shrug off or assume are related to a physical malady. Mental health concerns in men can also present as feelings of anger or irritability, which they may assume are due to stress at work or in their personal lives, rather than due to a mood disorder.

As a general rule, men are less likely than women to experience a mental health disorder. However, since the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders are often masked in men or confused with other issues, men are less likely to receive the care they need and more likely to experience tragic consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate among men was four times higher than among women in 2023.

Recognizing men's mental health symptoms and the risks they face is a crucial part of ensuring that they receive the treatment they need.

Why Men's Mental Health Matters

Over the course of a year, men are less likely to receive treatment for mental health concerns compared to women, according to the National Institutes of Health. This is despite the fact that the sooner treatment starts, the more effective it is likely to be, and the better quality of life a person can enjoy.

Stigma, or negative beliefs, attitudes, and stereotypes, around mental health conditions is often what prevents individuals from seeking care or being able to access care. The good news is that these negative beliefs are starting to fade away. A poll conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 88% of people said that having a mental health condition was nothing to feel ashamed about. However, that same poll also found that 35% of people said they would view an individual differently if they knew that they had a mental health condition.

Barriers to treatment and negative beliefs have a major impact on society. Male suicide rates are notably higher than female suicide rates, with men making up around half of the population but nearly 80 percent of suicides, according to the CDC.

Men don't have to attempt suicide to experience the negative impact of mental health stigma and lack of care. One of the ways that depression presents in men is in the form of high-risk behavior. Men with depression may also be more likely to misuse alcohol or other substances, which can affect their performance at work or with their loved ones.

There's also a physical component to men's mental health. Mental health is closely linked to physical health. Untreated depression, for example, can increase an individual's risk for chronic health conditions including heart disease and diabetes. It also increases the risk of stroke.

Men's mental health is multi-faceted, and goes beyond having a mental health disorder or not. A man with a mental health condition can thrive and have positive well-being in the right circumstances. Having a support network, strong community ties, and access to the right treatment can improve overall well-being and quality of life.

Questions about our Facilities or Programs?

Our admissions coordinators are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have as you consider whether treatment at Banyan is right for you or your loved one.

Talk To Our Team

What Men's Mental Health Problems Can Look Like in Real Life

The signs of mental illness in men may be notably different than they are in women. The differences in presentation often leads to missed diagnoses, with primary care physicians missing depression in more than 50 percent of cases. Understanding how various mental health conditions can present is the key to getting help for yourself or a loved one.

Depression in Men

About 6 percent of men in the US have experienced a major depressive episode, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Since the condition is often missed or under diagnosed, the actual number of men who have experienced major depression may be much higher.

In men, depression symptoms may be behavioral, rather than emotional or verbal. Men with depression may still experience sadness or lethargy. But, in many cases, they exhibit antisocial or problematic behaviors when experiencing depression.

Those behaviors can take the form of risk-taking, such as smoking cigarettes or engaging in unprotected sex. In some circumstances, men with depression may not take risks, but may engage in escapism. They may work excessively or develop an obsession with a hobby, such as watching sports.

Other common signs of "male-type" depression include irritability and aggressiveness. Since everyone feels irritable or may behave in an aggressive manner from time to time, it's important to distinguish between everyday feelings and behaviors and persistent ones. When a man is constantly angry or irritated, rather than as a direct result of something, it may be due to depression.

Anxiety/Chronic Stress in Men

More than 30 percent of adults are likely to experience anxiety at some point in their lives. Similarly to depression, women are more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety than men, whether it is generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder, which is closely related to anxiety disorder.

Just as men often have different depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms in men can present differently. Often, the symptoms of anxiety mimic stress symptoms in men. A man may feel impatient or irritable. He may lose interest in hobbies or activities and may feel tired or lacking energy, even if he is otherwise sleeping well.

Anxiety and stress can also cause physical symptoms in men. Muscle tension, a loss of appetite and weight changes are just a few of the physical manifestations of anxiety or stress in men.

Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

Men with depression or anxiety may be more likely to turn to certain coping behaviors, such as substance or alcohol use, than women. Of the three million deaths associated with alcohol use each year, 2.7 million deaths are men. Men are also two to three times more likely to develop a substance use disorder compared to women.

Although alcohol is a depressant, it can temporarily make a person feel better. When a man is feeling irritable, angry or sad, having a drink can seem to "take the edge off." The reality is that alcohol can actually make the symptoms of depression worse, which can then lead a person to drink more, creating a cycle that can be difficult to stop.

Fortunately, stopping drinking or other unhealthy coping behaviors can help to improve symptoms, paving the way to getting the help a person needs for their depression or other mental health conditions.

Levels of Care

What Men's Mental Health Problems Can Look Like in Real Life

Depression in Men

Risk-taking behaviors, such as smoking, driving fast or gambling.
Dramatic changes in energy levels or mood
Appetite changes, including eating less or more
Sudden aggressive behavior
Excessive sleeping or not enough sleep
Excessive drinking or substance use
Sudden obsession with work, sports or other hobbies

Emotional Signs

Consistent irritability or anger
Sadness
Lethargy
Withdrawal from friends and family
Feelings of hopelessness
Loss of motivation

Physical signs

Unexplained stomach pains
Unexplained chest pains
Unexplained headaches
Muscle tension

Don't Ignore these symptoms

If you or a loved one display any of the following signs of depression in men, immediate, emergency help is needed:

Thoughts of death
Plans for dying by suicide
Attempts to harm either yourself or others

Emergency help is available 24/7. Call or text 988 in the US for immediate help if you or someone you love is in crisis.

The stigma of men facing mental health issues

Why Men Often Hide, Delay, or Minimize Mental Health Symptoms

There isn't just one reason why men's mental health is often overlooked. A melange of causes contributes to the problem, often leading men to avoid or delay seeking care. Men's mental health stigma, symptom mislabeling and the assumption that men are more self-reliant than women all contribute to minimizing men's mental health needs.

Stigma, as the CDC notes, can take several forms. Structural stigma includes laws and policies that limit the rights of people experiencing mental health conditions while public stigma includes attitudes and beliefs held by groups or individuals towards others with mental health conditions. Both types can lead to discrimination, limiting an individual's access to work, community programs or other forms of social connection and support.

A third type of stigma comes from within. When some experiences self stigma, they may feel ashamed of their condition or may blame themselves for their anxiety or depression. Self stigma may prevent a man from seeking care or cause him to delay treatment until the condition has significantly advanced.

Beyond stigma, many men may delay or avoid treatment because they, and their primary care providers, don't realize they have a mental health disorder. Since the symptoms of male type depression are considerably different from what people, including many doctors, are trained to look for, they can be easy to miss or dismiss as another problem.

Even once an individual recognizes that they are experiencing depression, anxiety, or another issue, practical barriers may stand in the way of treatment. They may not be sure how to access care or may be hesitant to enroll in a treatment program if it will mean many hours of therapy each week or even having to move away from home for residential care. Insurance concerns may also prevent men from seeking the care they need.

While it's understandable that an individual may hesitate to get care or may want to take a "wait and see" approach, hoping that their symptoms will get better on their own, delaying treatment can compound the problem.

Men's Mental Health Statistics: What the Data Shows

Simply put, men are less likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition and to seek treatment for that condition. However, they are more likely to die because of poor mental health or to develop a co-occurring substance use disorder.

In 2019, 19.2 percent of adults in the U.S. had received mental health treatment within the previous 12 months. Women were far more likely than men to have sought out treatment, with nearly one out of every four women receiving care compared to 13.4 percent of men.

The difference between the rates of suicide in men and women is stark. Over the course of 20 years, from 2003 to 2023, the rate of male suicides in the US was three to four times higher than that of female suicides. From 2003 to 2018, the suicide rate among men steadily increased. In 2023, 22.7 men per 100,000 died by suicide, compared to 5.9 females per 100,000.

Age appears to be a factor in suicide rates among men. Individuals over age 85 had the highest rates of suicide in 2023, per the CDC's data, with more than half of all suicides occuring in individuals over age 45.

Getting into treatment is easy with our free insurance verification

"*" indicates required fields

When Stress, Anxiety, or Depression in Men May Require Professional Help

Many individuals feel stressed, sad, irritable or angry from time to time. For that reason, it's essential that men and their loved ones know how to recognize the difference between routine unpleasant emotions and behaviors and those that would benefit from professional health. The same is true for recognizing the difference between needing urgent men's mental health support and routine treatment.

There are several criteria to look for when determining whether your own symptoms or those of a loved one have crossed the line from occasional and part of the human experience into the realm of clinical concern.

Persistence: It's expected that a person will feel stressed and will experience negative emotions on occasion. A busy period at work, a divorce or the loss of a loved one can all lead to anxious feelings, sadness, anger or irritation. It's when those feelings continue or occur daily that an individual should become concerned.

Impairment: When negative behaviors and emotions begin to impact a man's quality of life or prevent him from accomplishing tasks or reaching goals, professional treatment is typically required. For example, if a man loses his job because of too many angry outbursts or gets yet another DUI because of drinking, it's time to get help.

Dependency: When depression or anxiety is accompanied by substance or alcohol use, a man may become dependent on those substances, requiring more and more or feeling as if he needs to drink or take drugs.

Isolation: When experiencing depression or anxiety, it's common for men to withdraw from those around them. If your loved one has become isolated or if you feel you are isolating yourself from others, treatment can help.
Intensity: Panic, hopelessness and frequent sleepless nights are all signs that a man needs mental help support.

Finally, it's important to recognize when a man needs urgent treatment rather than routine care. If you or your loved one has begun talking about harming themselves or is speaking frequently about their own death, seek urgent help. In the US, 988 is the hotline to call for immediate support.

Of the 3 million deaths associated with alcohol use each year

2.7 million deaths are men

American Psychology Association

Treatment for Men's Mental Health

Depending on the condition and the severity, mental health treatment can take several forms, including therapy and medication or a combination of the two. Therapy for men with depression, anxiety or another mental health condition may be individual or group-based. Evidence-based therapy modalities go beyond simply "talking about feelings," and use documented techniques to help individuals cope with their emotions and learn techniques to avoid or confront negative behaviors.

Individual men's counseling takes place one on one and may be in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), depending on an individual's need. Both are short-term therapies that allow a man to identify negative behaviors or thoughts, then develop coping skills to use when those thoughts or behaviors occur.

Counseling for men can also occur in a group setting. An individual may receive group therapy in addition to one-on-one therapy or solely group therapy. In a group setting, you benefit from peer support and have the opportunity to hear stories from others while sharing your own. Group therapy programs also provide an opportunity to practice social skills.

Medication may also be part of a man's mental health treatment plan. Often, combining therapy with medication, particularly for depression, is more effective than choosing one treatment over the other. For men with substance use or alcohol use disorder in addition to depression, medically supervised detox may be needed as a first step. During the supervised detox, you or your loved one may take medication to help ease symptoms and improve comfort.

For men with a dual-diagnosis, such as alcohol use disorder and depression or substance use disorder and anxiety, therapy will tackle both concerns. During CBT, a man will learn coping techniques to use when exposed to drinking triggers, for instance, or techniques to use when they feel angry or irritated.

The intensity of an individual's treatment program depends in large part on the severity of their mental health condition and whether they are treating a co-occurring condition. Residential treatment may be required for men with mental health disorders and substance use disorders, particularly if they require medically supervised detoxification at the beginning.

Otherwise, a man may find that outpatient treatment, such as attending therapy one or several times per week, is sufficient. Some men may benefit from treatment in a virtual setting, particularly if they live far from a treatment facility and do not require inpatient or residential care.

How Loved Ones Can Support a Man Who May Be Struggling

Whether he's your partner, your son or your parent, there are several ways you can support a man in your life who may be struggling with a mental health disorder.

First, it's important to understand and recognize the symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions. If your loved one seems "off" or begins acting aggressively, participating in risky behaviors or complaining of physical discomforts without an explanation, those can all be signs that they are experiencing a mental health crisis.

The way you talk to your loved one about what he is feeling or experiencing matters. Try to use "I" statements and note what you observe, rather than "you" statements or phrasing that can sound accusatory. For instance, you could say "I notice that you haven't been sleeping at night" or "I'm here to talk and listen." If your loved one comes to you with a concern or describes what they are feeling, avoid dismissing their problems or minimizing their concerns. Don't tell him to "man up" or try to reassure him by saying that "everyone gets stressed."

While you may want your loved one to seek treatment, remember it's not your job to diagnose him. Rather than coming to an individual with a stack of flyers or a list of websites and treatment facilities, suggest researching options together.

Men's Mental Health Across Life Stages

From youth to old age and at all phases in between, men should pay attention to their mental health. Major life events, such as entering the workforce, having a child or retiring can be triggers for depression or other mental health conditions.

Young adults, under the age of 25, tend to have the highest rates of mental health disorders in the US. There can be a number of reasons for the high rates of mental health conditions among young men, such as the pressures placed upon them as they start to enter the workforce or complete post-secondary education.

Although it's a condition commonly associated with new mothers, men who become fathers can also develop post-partum depression or another post-partum mood disorder. About 10 percent of new fathers experience post-partum depression, and the condition can develop over the course of the first year of fatherhood. Risk factors for a mood disorder after welcoming a new child include lack of sleep, a history of depression and relationship struggles.

As a man moves into the middle years of his life, those life changes may also trigger a mood disorder. Divorce, job loss, burnout or feeling the pressure to perform place a lot of stress on an individual. A study on opposite-sex twins found that men were more likely to develop depression in the year following particularly stressful events compared to their female twins. The signs of depression in men over 40 often follow the male-type pattern, meaning they can be initially difficult to recognize as depression.

Finally, the challenges of aging can also have an impact on male mental health. Isolation in old age, the loss of loved ones and potential financial difficulties as a man gets older can all increase the risk for depression or anxiety. The suicide rate among men is highest for those over age 75. White men in particular are at the greatest risk of dying by suicide, with a rate of 50.1 deaths per 100,000 men.

How Men Can Start Taking Care of Their Mental Health

In addition to seeking professional help, a man can develop self care habits that support his mental health. Self care for men can take many forms, from seeking out ways to connect with others to developing good sleep habits.

Men's Mental Health Tips

- Get regular exercise: Moderate levels of exercise can improve your mental health. Go to the gym, play a team sport or ride a bike for about 45 minute three to five times a week to see the best results.
- Improve your sleep quality: A study examined the connection between better sleep and mental health and found that the higher quality a person's sleep, the better their mental health. Avoiding screens in bed, going to bed at the same time nightly and avoiding eating or drinking right before bed can all help to improve sleep quality.
- Cut back on alcohol or other substances: Substance use can trigger or exacerbate mental health disorders.
- Connect with others: Whether it's with family, friends or colleagues, making time to connect socially with other people can have a significant impact on a man's mental health. Try to make participating in a hobby or having a meal with loved ones a regular part of your life.
- Get help: Self care can help improve your mental health, but professional help, such as therapy, may still be needed. If your symptoms persist, talk to a counselor or other mental health professional.

If you or someone you love is experiencing depression, anxiety or another mental health disorder, you're not alone. Therapy and other forms of treatment are available to help improve quality of life and overall well-being. Banyan Treatment Center has mental health facilities across the country to help you get the help you need.