Psychological illnesses in men often go undetected. What is the reason for this?
To answer this question, the Men’s Health Portal of the Federal Institute of Public Health in Germany said that the diagnosis of mental illnesses in men is less common compared to women. This is not because men are less affected by mental illness than women, but rather because they visit a psychiatrist less often.
The Health Portal explained that dealing with psychological problems is still difficult for many men, as they tend not to acknowledge suffering from a mental illness.
Addictive behavior
Men usually tend to deal with mental illness through outbursts of anger, increased risk-taking, excessive exercise, and addictive behavior such as increased consumption of alcohol and nicotine.
The portal stressed the necessity of consulting a psychiatrist when observing these behaviors in order to undergo psychological treatment in a timely manner, especially if these behaviors are accompanied by symptoms such as despair, loss of a sense of self-importance and the value of life, and thinking about harming oneself, such as thinking about suicide, for example.
Psychotherapy
These symptoms can be confronted through psychological treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps patients change their negative outlook on life and teaches them useful strategies to cope with psychological burdens and pressures.
In some cases, medication can also be used, such as antidepressants.