Men's Health Facts

Mental Health and Wellbeing

One in four of us in Scotland will experience mental health problems at some point in our lives.  Work-related stress affects about one in five workers (some five million people) and stress-related conditions are now the commonest reported cause of sickness absence.

The incidence and prevalence of depression and anxiety is higher among women, however it has been suggested that men may suffer from depression and anxiety just as often as women but are more reluctant to acknowledge they have difficulties and to seek help.

It is well known that men have higher levels of suicide than women, at all ages, but with particularly high rates among younger and older men.  Men also have higher levels of substance misuse.  Figures for Scotland suggest that 33% of adult males, compared with 15% of adult females exceed the recommended weekly alcohol consumption.

Some of the risk factors for men:

• More men than women are unemployed.  Rates of unemployment are particularly high among men aged under 25 years, compared with young women.
• Fathers and older men on low incomes may have less contact with friends and family
• Poor physical health can have an impact on mental health.  Men have a shorter life expectancy and have higher mortality rate in relation to cancer, heart disease and stroke
• Men are more likely to commit criminal offences, and to engage in violent behaviour.  Men are also the victims of abuse and violence, frequently perpetrated by other men.
• Gender roles/masculinities, for example, may act as a barrier to men feeling able to express their feelings, or to admit to experiencing emotional/psychological difficulties.  It has been suggested that the breakdown in “traditional gender roles” has left men uncertain of what is expected of them in terms of significant relationships

Useful documents

Equal Minds:

addressing mental health inequalities in Scotland (pdf)

A report written by the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health.  The report includes information about how gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability can have an impact on Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Stigma: An International briefing paper (pdf)

Tackling the discrimination, stigma and social inclusion experienced by people with mental health problems and those close to them - Published by NHS Health Scotland, 2008

Men's Mental Health - link to fact sheet about men and mental health produced by MIND

Improving Mental Health Information Programme

Information Services Division (NHS Scotland)

Useful links

MIND - for better mental heatlh

Scottish Government

Breathing Space

Choose Life

Scottish Association for Mental Health

Scottish Public Health Observatory

NHS Health Scotland