#mens-mental-health

#mens-mental-health

When we think of clinical depression, we usually think of sadness, anxiety, poor motivation, the "blahs," guilt, and negativity. These all have the negative inclination that characterizes depression. We may also think of women as they are subject to depression more often than men. Depression in adult men is frequently quite different. As an example: A man who is usually calm and even tempered, becomes irritable, prone to anger, criticism, disparaging remarks and cynicism. He does not show emotions such as sadness, pessimism and guilt.

Declared cancer-free shortly after, he has faced major adjustments since: learning to manage a neobladder, coping with incontinence (for which he has partnered with Depends to help destigmatize), and rebuilding his strength after additional surgeries to address blood clots. True to form, Sanders has met each of these health challenges with transparency and tenacity. He even keeps a portable bathroom on the sidelines, joking that adaptability is part of his playbook now.

Every day, around nine Australians end their lives; three-quarters of them are men. That is a shocking statistic. But nothing can prepare you for the shock when that statistic includes someone you love. One day in mid-2013, my dad became one of the nine. After doing a heroic job bringing up five kids and helping raise a growing collection of grandkids, he killed himself in the garage of his rented Kirrawee home. It broke me in ways I am still dealing with.

Peter Farlow emphasizes the importance of emotional conversation among men, highlighting how seeking help was difficult for him due to the lack of dialogue about feelings.