Key Statistics about Men and Mental Distress

These statistics relate directly to males in connection with mental health. Many people are unsure about who is more likely to suffer from an emotional disorder; does it depend on an individual's background, childhood or even their race or religion? The information below will hopefully help answer some of those questions.

Admission to hospital

The number of men formally admitted to NHS hospitals in England and Wales under Part II of the Mental Health Act (Sections 2, 3 and 4) has risen dramatically in recent years. Formal admissions of men in England rose from 8,673 per year in 1990 to 13,400 in 2003-2004, while the number of women admitted increased from 8,908 to 11,400.[1]

In Wales, during the same period, the number of men admitted rose from 547 per year to 750, while the figures for women increased from 558 to 590.[2] Black men in particular have high admission rates to hospital under section, and are over-represented in secure units.

Suicide

In the UK the suicide rates for men are higher than for women across all age groups. In the 25 to 44 age range, men are almost four times more likely than women to kill themselves, while men aged 45 and over are more than twice as likely to commit suicide as women in the same age range (see Mind’s Suicide factsheet).

During the twenty-five years leading up to 1998 young male suicides increased at an alarming rate, however, in the period from 1998 to 2005, the young male suicide rate has dropped by 30 per cent. Much of this downward trend has been attributed to the Government’s National suicide prevention strategy.[3]

Depression

A number of recent studies suggest that depression occurs as often in men as in women, [4] even though women get diagnosed and treated twice as often as men.[5] ‘Hidden’ or ‘covert’ depression may also be a factor behind several of the problems we think of as being typically male – alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence and failures in intimacy [6] (see Mind’s booklet Understanding depression).

Schizophrenia

The statistics on schizophrenia and gender are inconclusive. Hospital-based studies suggest a higher rate of schizophrenia in men, whereas community-based surveys have mostly suggested an equal sex ratio (see Mind’s booklet Understanding schizophrenia).

We do know that men are more likely to experience the early onset of schizophrenia, typically in their late teens to mid-twenties. DSM IV (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) suggests that men diagnosed with schizophrenia have a poorer prognosis for recovery than women. [7]

Substance abuse

Alcohol abuse and dependence is far more common in men than women, with a male-to-female ratio of five to one. Alcohol and drug use is the major contributory factor in violent crime: 62 per cent of violent offenders were drinking at the time of the crime.

Solvent abuse is predominantly a young male problem, with males accounting for 70 to 80 per cent of solvent abuse (see Mind’s booklet Understanding the psychological effects of street drugs).

Personality disorders

Men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with antisocial, paranoid and schizoid or schizotypal personality disorders. [8]

Antisocial personality disorder is predominantly found in men and usually begins early in life. Men with antisocial personality disorder make up 63 per cent of male remand prisoners in the UK and 49 per cent of sentenced male prisoners (see Mind’s booklet Understanding personality disorders).

(Statistics from Mind.org.uk)

The information above suggests women are much more prone to mental disorders than men, a clear example of this is the five to one ratio of substance abuse. However, illnesses like ADHD seem to affect many more males, mainly during childhood, research has shown the percentage of boys suffering from mental distress is far higher than young girls.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Research suggests that men are more likely to experience childhood disorders, for example, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder [9] (see Mind’s booklet Understanding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

Post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Individuals at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder include combat veterans, fire-fighters and victims of violence, groups where men are likely to be over-represented.

Studies of groups of at-risk individuals show that they are at least three times more likely to have PTSD than the general population (see Mind’s booklet Understanding post-traumatic stress disorder).

Some facts about men's mental health

75 per cent of suicides in the UK are by men.

Older men have the highest suicide rate in the UK.

Studies suggest that depression occurs as often in men as in women.

Doctors are less likely to diagnose men with depression than women.

Physical illness is a major contributory factor in men developing mental distress.

Men are less likely to seek medical attention than women.

Unemployment is a major cause of depression and suicide in men.

One in seven men who become unemployed will develop depression within six months.

Men are more likely than women to experience long-term unemployment.

50 per cent of victims of domestic violence are men.

Men make up 96 per cent of the UK prison population.

Men are more likely to be given custodial sentences than women for the same offence.

58 per cent of remand prisoners have been assessed as having mental health problems.

39 per cent of sentenced prisoners have been assessed as having mental health problems.

Alcohol and substance abuse is five times more common in men than in women.

Men tend to have an earlier onset of schizophrenia and a poorer prognosis than women.

The social context of men’s mental distress

Men appear to be more vulnerable to mental health problems and to suicide than ever before. This is probably due to a combination of social and other factors.

Many men have been brought up not to talk about their problems or express their feelings. To admit to having pain or some other problem is seen as a confession of weakness. One effect of this conditioning is that men are reluctant to ask for help for their emotional problems.

We know that men are less likely than women to go to their GP with psychological problems; if they do go to their GP they are more likely to present with physical problems which may not be recognised as a manifestation of mental distress. The male denial factor appears to be unrelated to occupation, age, race or socio-economic status.

Men’s fear of talking about their problems can also mean they avoid conflict and difficult discussions, resulting in communication breakdowns and relationship problems.

At the same time, men are facing a series of social pressures. Men have been affected more severely than women by the shrinkage of heavy industry and traditional manufacturing jobs. Young men and boys are doing less well than girls at school and in further education. The breakdown of traditional gender roles and the concept of the ‘new man’ have left many men feeling uncertain of what is expected of them, particularly in terms of significant relationships.

Men, particularly those with mental distress, are also more likely to be in the criminal justice system.

Family

Research suggests that married men are less likely to commit suicide, and that half of the increase in young male suicide may be due to the fact that less young men are married. [10] Men who are divorced, separated or widowed, unemployed or shy are the most likely to commit suicide.

Most divorces and separations are initiated by women, and in the vast majority of cases, the man did not want their family to split up. [11] Men are, in over 70 per cent of cases, divorced by their wives against their wishes. Also, when a relationship breaks down, men may lose touch with their children as well as their partner, and may have to find a new home.

The same study found that if a man takes the step of marrying and has children: he has a 50:50 chance of divorcing and losing custody of his children. He has a one in three chance of losing his home, and a one in ten chance of losing contact with his children forever. UK courts award custody of children to mothers in 91 per cent of cases. [12]

The breakdown of families also has an impact on the lives of young boys. Delegates at a seminar organised by the Home Office (1999) heard how boys who had no contact with their fathers were more likely to be violent, get hurt, get into trouble and do less well at school.

A recent study [13] confirmed that there is a significant link between the level of involvement by fathers and a boy being in trouble with the police. The study found that 35 per cent of boys with little or no involvement with their father had offended, compared to 18 per cent of boys with a highly involved father. Highly involved fathers emerged as a major factor in boys’ general wellbeing. A caring, emotionally supportive father seems to protect boys against depression or suicidal thoughts.

(Statistics from Mind.org.uk)

Realising you have a mental problem and dealing with it can be a daunting experience. Men in particular can find themselves very isolated due to their reluctance to talk about their feelings. Unlike females, males tend not to share their emotions with friends, close ones or their GP, but rather bottle it up and try to solve the problem themselves without actually dealing with their situation. If you would like to find more information about different emotional disorders, please see our Types of Distress section.