What is depression?

Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects how you feel, think and manage daily activities. It can make you lose pleasure or interest in things you usually enjoy and feel, such as:

• sad
• angry
• irritable
• empty
• stuck
• alone

While it is normal to feel down sometimes, people with depression experience these feelings more intensely and for longer periods. If you feel this way for 2 weeks or more, you may be experiencing depression.

Social norms and cultural contexts may define your understanding of what it is to be male or a man. For some, this may include not talking about your feelings or not showing that you're upset. This can sometimes make it hard for you to acknowledge that you may be experiencing depression. There may also be differences in how you experience depression and your behaviour. You may be more likely to report substance misuse and risk-taking behaviours.

The information in this article is about depression in men and males. However, many aspects of depression are not gender or sex specific. Read more on depression in the general community.

How common is depression in men?

Depression is common — it affects about 1 in 10 men at some point in their lives. Depression can put people at risk of suicide. Sadly, an average of 6 men die by suicide every day in Australia.

If you need to talk to someone about your mental health, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Men who identify as gay or bisexual and men who have sex with men are at increased risk of mental health conditions.

If you are experiencing depression related to your sexuality or gender identity (LGBTQI+), QLife provides a counselling and referral service for LGBTQI+ people. You can call them on 1800 184 527.

Read more about LGBTIQA+ mental health.

What are the symptoms of depression in men?

Symptoms of depression involve the way you feel, think and behave. There are also physical signs of depression. Depression affects different people in different ways.

For example, you may feel:

• irritable, angry or frustrated
• sad or empty
• disappointed
• indecisive or overwhelmed
• helpless or hopeless
• guilty or unworthy

You may think negative thoughts, such as:

• you are not important or valuable (low self-esteem)
• people would be better off without you
• life is not worth living
• you are a failure
• you have not lived up to expectations or responsibilities as a partner, parent or provider

You may start behaving differently, for example by:

• not going out with friends or family
• not managing as well as you normally do at work or school
• escaping into work or sports activities
• not doing activities you normally look forward to
• relying on drugs or alcohol
• not being able to concentrate
• behaving recklessly

You may also notice physical signs such as:

• difficulty sleeping or feeling tired
• changed appetite with or without weight loss or gain
• feeling run down or unwell
• loss of sexual desire or performance
• headaches, muscle pain or stomach pain
• tearfulness
• physical agitation or restlessness

You may experience some of these signs occasionally. However, if your symptoms appear often or won't go away, you might be experiencing depression. You can check if what you are experiencing could be depression by taking Beyond Blue's Anxiety and Depression Test (K10).

While anyone with depression can experience one or more of these symptoms, men and women tend to experience and report them differently. Men are more likely to talk about the physical symptoms of depression, such as feeling tired or losing weight, rather than saying they feel low.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

What causes depression in men?

The exact cause of depression is unknown. Every person has different circumstances.

Complex chemical changes occur in the body, particularly in the brain, when people experience depression. Usually depression happens because of a mix of:

• life events
• personal factors
• changes in the brain

While you often can't pinpoint the cause of depression, understanding the circumstances can sometimes help you manage it.

For some people, challenging life events or issues may cause depression. Life events associated with depression include:

• the death of someone close to you
• becoming a new parent
• facing unemployment, financial strain or instability
• past or continuing abuse
• ongoing stress at work
• major life changes such as an accident or the end of a relationship
• migration

Sometimes these events can trigger depression if you are already at risk.

Personal factors may leave you more vulnerable to depression. You are more likely to develop depression if:

• you have a close family member with depression
• you have a serious medical condition
• you have a personality that is prone to depression, such as if you worry a lot or are a perfectionist
• you use drugs or drink too much alcohol

Loneliness can also increase your risk of developing depression.

Drug and alcohol use can be both the cause and a consequence of depression. This is because people may turn to substances to provide short-term relief from their symptoms. This is not an effective treatment. Reducing the amount of alcohol you drink can be very helpful if you have depression. You can get help from the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.

Sometimes, people can develop depression for no obvious reason. Just because there is no clear cause, it doesn't mean that you are not experiencing depression.

When should I see my doctor?

If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, it's best to seek help early. The sooner your symptoms are addressed, the better the outcome will likely be. Seek help and speak with your doctor if you:

• have been feeling sad or depressed most of the day
• have symptoms of depression for 2 or more weeks
• are worried that you may be depressed

Talking about depression and thoughts of suicide can be hard. Your doctor is a trained professional and will not judge you.

If you are experiencing occasional signs of depression or just feeling low, you can reach out to a friend or family member. This could be to chat or go out together to do something you enjoy.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How is depression in men diagnosed?

A health professional, such as a GP, psychiatrist or psychologist, can diagnose depression. If you are concerned about your mental health, or the mental health of someone you care about, contact your GP.

To diagnose depression, your doctor will do a mental health assessment. This usually involves a discussion or answering a questionnaire, as well as a physical examination. This will help your doctor identify the cause of your symptoms.

Your doctor will seek to understand how you feel and think. They will check for any symptoms of depression, such as:

• changes in your energy levels
• appetite changes
• sleep changes
• if you are feeling restless, hopeless or sad

This can help them find if there are underlying causes for how you are feeling. You should also tell them if you have felt this way before or had any episodes of mania.

If you have a family history of mental illness — either depression or another condition — tell your GP, as this can help with your diagnosis.

Your answers will also help your GP decide if a specialist such as a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist might be helpful and if a referral is needed.

How can I help a man with depression?

If you think that a male friend or family member may be experiencing depression, you can offer them help and support.

Some men find it particularly difficult to share their emotions. You can help them by starting a conversation. Ask them how they are doing and show them that you want to support them. Make sure to listen to them. Choose a calm moment when there are no distractions to begin the conversation.

Visit the Black Dog Institute for information on how to help someone else with a mental health condition.

Sometimes men with depression might feel that they don't want to seek help because they are supposed to be tough and self-reliant. In this situation, the best thing you can do is to reassure them, be patient and help them explore their options. Remind them that depression is a serious but common mental health condition that can improve with the right support.

Read the healthdirect page on how to help someone with depression.

How is depression in men treated?

There are many different types of treatments depending on your symptoms and how severe they are. You should start by speaking with your doctor. They can assess you and if necessary, work with you to build a mental health treatment plan. This is a plan that maps out your treatment goals and includes the services and resources available to you.

If your doctor thinks that another health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, should be involved, they will be able to refer you to someone who can help.

Often, a combination of treatments works best. The main ways to treat depression are with:

• medicines
• psychological treatments
• physical treatments
• brain stimulation therapies
• self-help or alternative (complementary) therapies

Medicines

Antidepressants and mood stabilising medicines affect the chemical processes in the brain that control your mood. They normally take 4 to 6 weeks to be effective.

Many different medicines are used to treat depression. Your doctor will work with you to find the one that is right for you. It can take several weeks for an antidepressant medicine to work fully and your doctor may need to adjust your dose. You may experience side effects or suicidal thoughts when starting a new antidepressant.

Psychological treatments

Psychological treatments used for depression include:

• cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
• interpersonal therapy (IPT)
• psychotherapy
• counselling
• online therapies (eTherapy)

Physical treatments

Physical treatments are sometimes appropriate for depression. These may include one of these brain stimulation therapies:

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) — uses an electromagnetic coil placed on the scalp to stimulate the nerve cells in your brain that control mood.
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) — involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while you are under anaesthetic. It is used to treat specific types of depression, including severe depression that has not responded to medicines.

Self-help and alternative therapies

A wide range of self-help techniques and alternative or complementary therapies can also be used to treat depression, either by themselves or together with other types of therapies.

Not all types of depression will respond to these methods alone. It is important that you work with your doctor to build a personal mental health treatment plan that will work for you.

Self-help and complementary therapies include:

• meditation and mindfulness
• eating healthy and exercising regularly
• avoiding alcohol and drugs
• yoga
• massage therapy

If you are experiencing depression, your doctor may recommend one of these types of therapy by itself or together with other types of treatments.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

What are the complications of depression in men?

Depression can lead to mental health and physical complications. When depression becomes very severe, you can experience dark thoughts. These can sometimes lead to self-harm or suicide. If you are having thoughts of suicide, talking to someone you trust can help.

Depression can also affect your relationships and your ability to care for yourself and those around you.

If someone you care about has severe depression, learn the warning signs. They may be feeling so bad that they can't see their way out alone.

Read more about suicide warning signs.

Can depression in men be prevented?

Even if you are more likely to get depression, there's a lot you can do to keep symptoms away. Some proven strategies for good mental health are:

• exercising
• avoiding harmful levels of alcohol and other substance use
• getting enough sleep
• managing anxiety, such as using relaxation techniques
• staying sociable so you avoid becoming isolated

You can also see a psychologist if you're not depressed. This is a good way to maintain your mental health.

Resources and support

It is important to reach out to your doctor if you are feeling down or think you may be depressed. You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For telephone counselling support for people at risk and those affected by suicide, call the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

There are many resources and support online for men experiencing depression.

• MensLine Australia has information on Men's mental health and common challenges.
• Dads In Distress is a peer support for separated dads — call 1300 853 437.
• Pregnancy, Birth and Baby has information on fathers and depression.
• Medicare Mental Health is a free service that can connect you with a mental health service provider. Make a free call to their national phone service on 1800 595 212.

Beyond Blue has a lot of information on topics such as:

• depression
• how to talk to someone you're worried about
• work and mental health
• parenting and mental health
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander men

Languages other than English

• Embrace Multicultural Mental Health has in-language services and information available.
• This Way Up has translated resources on mental health topics.
• The Transcultural Mental Health Centre has translated mental health resources in over 40 languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

• 13YARN — watch this video for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples in crisis and in need of support — call 13 92 76.
• Brother to Brother Dardi Munwurro is a crisis line for men — call 1800 435 799.
• WellMob has online resources to support mental health.