An estimated one in every 10 American men suffer from mental health issues relating to anxiety or depression, but according to a new study, less than half of these men receive treatment for their condition.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report regarding the status of mental health of citizens in the United States, particularly in men.
Researchers from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) analyzed data collected from 21,000 male Americans aged 18 years old and above. The study showed that 7.7 percent of the participants experienced feelings of anxiety every day, while 3.5 percent of them had feelings of depression daily.
Meanwhile, about 8.5 percent of these men claimed that they feel either anxious or depressed every day.
Among the total number of participants, 6.1 percent of Hispanic and non-Hispanic black men were 30 percent less likely to report that they gave daily feelings of anxiety and depression to other people compared to non- Hispanic white men (8.5 percent).
The researchers, however, noted that only 33 percent of men who felt anxiety or depression received medication to address their condition, while 25.7 percent consulted a medical health professional within the past 12 months.
The findings of the study showed that 43 percent of non-Hispanic white men were more likely to seek help from a doctor and take medications for their condition compared to Hispanic men and non-Hispanic black (36 percent).
The researchers believe these disparities could likely be caused by the widespread stigma on mental illness as well as the cultural difference people have regarding the concept of masculinity. They also blame economic factors on the part of men such as having health insurance and access to proper mental health care.
"We suspect that there are several social and cultural pressures that lead black and Hispanic men to be less likely than white men to seek mental health treatments," NCHS associate director Stephen Blumberg said in an interview.
"These pressures, which include ideas about masculinity and the stigma of mental illness, may be more pronounced for men of color," he said. "And these same forces may lead men of color to be more likely to deny or hide feelings of anxiety or depression."
Photo: Kelly B. | Flickr
