Men and Mental Health
Why is men’s mental health important?
Mental disorders affect men and women. The prevalence of several mental disorders is lower in men than in women. However, other disorders are diagnosed at comparable rates for men and women or at higher rates for men, like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Men are also more likely to die by suicide than women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Certain symptoms may also be more common in men than women, and the course of illness can be affected by a person’s sex. Researchers are only now beginning to tease apart the various biological and psychosocial factors that may impact mental health.
Men are less likely to have received mental health treatment than women in the past year. Recognizing the signs that you or someone you love may have a mental disorder is the first step toward getting treatment. The earlier that treatment begins, the more effective it can be.
Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Learn more about taking care of your mental health.
Health topics and resources for men
Featured health topics
- Anxiety Disorders
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Substance Use and Co-Occurring Mental Disorders
- Suicide Prevention
Featured brochures and fact sheets
Federal Resources
- Brother, You’re on My Mind: This National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities initiative uses a variety of activities to raise awareness of the mental health challenges associated with depression and stress that affect African American men and their families.
- Men’s Health: The National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus offers resources on the unique health issues men experience (en español).
- Preventing Suicide Among Men in the Middle Years: Recommendations for Suicide Prevention Programs: The Suicide Prevention Resource Center created this resource to help state and community suicide prevention programs design and implement projects to prevent suicide among men in the middle years (ages 35–64).
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): SAMHSA offers publications addressing the specific needs of men.
- Why We Need to Talk About Men’s Mental Health: This blog post from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health discusses the importance of supporting men’s mental health.
Featured videos
NIH Experts Discuss the Intersection of Suicide and Substance Use
Learn about common risk factors, populations at elevated risk, suicides by drug overdose, treatments, prevention, and resources for finding help.
Men in the Middle Years
This video from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center spotlights men between the ages of 35−64, a group whose suicide rate is more than double the national average.
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