Breaking the mental health stigma with men

Let’s be honest — the past year was a rough one. A global pandemic, lockdowns, furloughs and layoffs, quarantines, and a myriad of other challenges made life difficult — sometimes it was seemingly unbearable.

If you stopped to question why you weren’t feeling your usual self, you’re not alone. With the roadblocks, challenges and daily stresses of today, the rise in people reporting symptoms of depression has grown.

During this Men’s Health Month, it’s important to take a second to understand what depression is so you are equipped with the information and resources necessary, should you feel your mental health has decreased. Studies have shown that men are less likely to report or seek help for symptoms of depression than women, but with the amount of resources and help available, there’s no need to suffer in silence.

What is depression?

Depression is a common, yet serious, illness that affects how you feel, think and act. Depression can present itself in many different ways, including:

• Feeling sad or in a sad mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite such as weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
• Changes in your sleep such as sleeping too much or having difficulty sleeping
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue during your daily routine
• Increase in purposeless physical activity (such as, inability to sit still, pacing around, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech that are observable by others
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide

There are several factors that can play a role in the development or likelihood a person will experience depression. Biochemistry factors include the different levels of certain chemicals present in the brain. Genetic factors include family history of depression, as it can run in families. Personality factors can play a role — people with low self-esteem, those who are constantly overwhelmed or stressed, and those who have a more pessimistic mindset may be more likely to experience depression. Environmental factors can also increase the chance of someone developing depression; things like continuous exposure to violence, abuse, neglect and poverty may make some people more vulnerable to depression.

What should you do if you think you are depressed?

“In general, when questioning depression, a person should schedule a time to see their treating physician,” said Craig Lammers, PhD, a clinical psychologist at MultiCare’s Rockwood Behavioral Health Clinic. “Their physician is well trained in screening for depression, identifying life situational factors (divorce, loss of job, and so on) the person may be experiencing.”

There are also some physical conditions that can lead to feeling depressed (such as low thyroid) that can be addressed and possibly lift the feelings of depression. The outcome of the visit might be to try an antidepressant, which could easily be prescribed during the appointment.

“If counseling is warranted, the provider would be able to enter a referral to our local behavioral health department,” said Lammers. “While a patient can contact our behavioral health department directly, we would prefer a referral coming from their provider.”

What should you do if you are in crisis?

If you feel you are in crisis, such as feeling suicidal or feeling like you are going to harm yourself, and are in the Spokane area, you should call the regional Crisis Line at 877-266-1818. Regardless of what region you are in you may also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, or dial 911.

What happens when you seek help? 

Lammers wants those considering seeking help to feel comfortable and reassured while going through the process. In order to eliminate some of the fear or anxiety around seeking help, he outlined what a patient can expect when they reach out to speak with a therapist below:

When someone schedules an appointment with a therapist, they will have to provide some basic background, health and symptom information that the therapist can review prior to and during the appointment. The goal of the first appointment is for the therapist and the patient to get to know one another, try to identify the problem to be addressed, and possibly talk about treatment goals.

Most people are quite nervous or anxious coming into that first appointment, and the therapist’s desire is to simply help them relax and become comfortable together. Trust is a very important part of the therapeutic relationship, and of course, it will take a few sessions for that to be established. Hopefully by the end of the first or second session the patient will have felt heard and understood and have a clearer sense of how ongoing counseling will proceed.

Evaluate your symptoms

If you’ve been feeling different than your usual self; family and friends have noticed differences in your activity or mood; or you have experienced any symptoms of depression unrelated to a targeted event (such as the death of a loved one), you may be wondering if you are battling depression. Lammers encourages anyone that is worried or concerned about changes in their mental health to reach out to one of the many resources available, but also recommends the Patient Health Questionnaire to people who are unsure if what they are feeling could actually be classified as depression.

The Patient Health Questionnaire, frequently referred to as the PHQ-9, is a depression questionnaire that is used in almost every physicians’ office to consistently assess for depression. The questionnaire includes evaluating the frequency of different symptoms and activities and a brief interpretation of your questionnaire results. Please note that this questionnaire is a surface-level evaluation and does not in and of itself serve as a diagnosis. Any concerns you have about your mental health should also be brought to your doctor or other health care provider.