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Men's Mental Health Facts and Statistics
Globally, men are less likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition as compared to women (12.5% compared to 13.5%), including depressive disorders (3.0% compared to 4.5%), but are much more likely to die by suicide and experience substance misuse disorder.
Suggested factors to consider include decreased utilization of health care, underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis in men, lack of accurate assessment tools, developed behaviors and social norms (self-reliance, less social support, expectations of masculinity), and limited effective treatment options.
Undiagnosed and untreated issues can lead to increased risky behaviors, violence, self-harm, suicide, decline in academic or job performance, loss of interest in activities, hopelessness, and impaired relationships.
Important signs and symptoms of mental health distress that occur more frequently in men include:
- Male symptoms of depression or mental health illness are generally more “externalized,” such as anti-social or aggressive behavior and substance abuse, compared to “internalized” behaviors like being disinterested/withdrawn, loss of appetite, or sleep disruptions.
- The use of distraction methods, such as exercise, consumption of media, and excessive sleeping, are more common in males.
Men are less likely to seek social or professional support, often leading to prolonged and potentially worsening mental health issues.
Suicide
There were 39,282 men lost to suicide during 2022 in the United States, which is 3-4.5 times higher than women, depending on the age group, and nearly 80% of total suicides.
- Suicides were highest among men over 65 years of age, at six times the rate of women, and are trending upwards with a 34% increase since 2010 for men aged 25-34 years old.
In Illinois, men are 3.6 times more likely to die by suicide than women based on age-adjusted rates.
According to the Illinois Violent Death Reporting System, 1,182 men died from suicide in 2022, compared to 325 women.
2015-2022 Illinois Suicide Rate by Males and Females
Crude rates reported by the Illinois Violent Death Reporting System (IVDRS), which is operated by Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
