Key statistics about men and mental health

Men and mental health

Mental health problems are more common than you might think. One in four¹ people experience mental health problems of some kind in England each year. One in six² experience common mental health problems each week. 

At any one time, it is believed that one in eight men and one in five women have a common mental health problem, such as depression and anxiety.³

According to Mental Health UK⁴, 12.5% of men in England have a mental health disorder. Research suggests that men are less likely to seek help for their mental health. Just 36% of all NHS referrals for psychological therapies are for men. 52% of men would be concerned about taking time off of work for mental health related reasons, while 46% would feel embarrassed or ashamed to tell their employer. 

A study from the University of York⁵ revealed that 73% of adults who ‘go missing’ are men. Official statistics of rough sleeping in England⁶ revealed 82% of those sleeping rough are thought to be men. 

In terms of substance abuse, men are more likely to develop a problem. Men are more likely to be dependent on⁷, with 4.3% of men having a dependancy. 74% of those admitted to hospital for drug-related mental and behavioural disorders are men. 

Why is men’s mental health so overlooked?

Mental health and well-being are just as important for men and women. Men’s mental health can be overlooked for many different reasons. Some men feel pressure to appear strong and self-sufficient, which can lead to difficulty asking for help. Many feel that there is a stigma around mental health, reporting feeling ashamed or weak for experiencing ill mental health. Fear of judgement from others can hold many back from seeking help, as can fear of being seen as a failure. 

Depression in men

Depression is often found to be more difficult to diagnose in men. This is thought to be because men are less likely to share when they are struggling with their mental health. Research suggests that men may be less likely to seek help due to traditional gender roles and society’s expectations⁸.

Some symptoms of depression can be more common in men than women. These can include irritability, aggression, risk-taking, sudden anger, and increased loss of control⁹. Men may also be more likely to use drugs and alcohol to cope with depression.

It’s estimated that one in three women and one in five men¹⁰ will have an episode of major depression by age 65. This marked difference could, however, be due to fewer men seeking help for depression.

Postnatal depression

According to the National Childbirth Trust (NCT)¹¹, 25% of new dads experience mind depressive symptoms, with 10-12% receiving a diagnosis of depression during the first year after their child is born. It’s thought that first-time dads are more vulnerable to postnatal depression than fathers having another child. 

As symptoms can often look like stress, many men and women experiencing postnatal depression go undiagnosed. The NCT research also suggests that dads are more likely to experience postnatal depression if their partner is depressed. Younger fathers (under 25) are also more likely to experience postnatal depression. 

Men and anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorder worldwide¹². Anxiety affects a significant number of men, with 29.9% reporting high levels of anxiety in 2022/23¹³. Young people aged 16 to 29 were found to be the most likely to have some form of anxiety (28%).

Men and suicide

The main reason experts suspect more men are affected by mental health problems than is reported is the high number of male suicides. According to the Samaritans¹⁴, males are three times more likely to die by suicide than females. 74% of deaths by suicide in 2023 in England were male, with men aged 45-49 being the most likely to die by suicide. 

According to the Samaritans 2021 research briefing on gender and suicide¹⁵, suicide is a gendered problem. In the UK and the Republic of Ireland, men are significantly more likely to die by suicide. Research suggests that some risk factors affect men and women differently. Relationship breakdown increases suicide risk more significantly in men.

The Samaritans¹⁶ revealed that men from disadvantaged backgrounds, in their 30s, 40s and 50s are at the highest risk of dying by suicide. 

Middle age is a time when the weight of previous long-term decisions reveal themselves. Making changes can come with a hefty cost, financially and socially. Feeling trapped under choices made earlier in life can seriously compromise mental well-being.

The study also revealed that the suicide rate was 10 times higher in men who have a lower socioeconomic status than affluent males. There has been a well-known link between unemployment and suicide for some time but, in this study, the authors discuss why, beyond losing a job, socioeconomic status might affect suicide rate.

One potential factor the authors identified was the "feminisation" of employment, where there is a shift towards a service-orientated economy. It is thought that this may lead some men to feel like they have less of a purpose in the professional world. It is also hypothesised that men may feel as if they’ve lost a sense of masculine identity and male 'pride'.

One suggestion from the study is to develop effective interventions for young boys at risk as many of the patterns seen to lead to suicide in middle age often begin in youth.

How can counselling help?

Mental health charities and the media have looked to change the stigma surrounding mental health and particularly the stigma of asking for support. We all need support at some point in our lives. Being open, honest, and reaching out can help ourselves - and others - more than we might realise. 

Working with a professional counsellor or therapist provides a safe, judgement-free space to talk about anything that is worrying you in your life. Counselling can give you the space to explore your thoughts, worries, and feelings with an unbiased person who is there to listen. With the help of a therapist, you can gain better insight and understanding into any problems you may be experiencing. They can also help provide the tools you need to move forward and resolve problems on your own. 

Talk therapy has been shown to help with many of the key mental health issues experienced by men, including stress, anxiety, addiction and depression. The key is recognising that you need support and seeking help before these problems get on top of you.

Talking to a professional can help you take back control. Working with a counsellor can help you find healthier ways of thinking and more helpful coping mechanisms. If you are unsure of what to expect during a counselling session or want to learn more about how counselling can help you, you may find our 'What is counselling?' page helpful.

In the video below, psychotherapist John-Paul Davies (UKCP Accredited, MBACP, PG Dip) discusses the importance of maintaining a calm and alive state for mental health and how counselling can help.

Taking that first step should never be considered a moment of weakness - instead, it shows true strength of character.

References

• ^{1, 2} Mind, mental health facts and statistics
• ³ The Mental Health Foundation, Men and Women: Statistics
• ⁴ Mental Health UK, statistics about men’s mental health
• ⁵ The University of York, lost from view: a study of missing persons in the UK
• ⁶ Official statistics rough sleeping snapshot in England autumn 2023
• ⁷ UK Addiction Treatment Centres, Facts about men and drugs
• ^{8, 16} Samaritans men and suicide report
• ⁹ Mental Health Foundation, men and mental health
• 10 Our World in data, lifetime risk of depression
• ¹¹ NCT, Postnatal depression in dads and co-parents
• ¹² World Health Organization, anxiety disorders
• ¹³ Mental Health Foundation, anxiety statistics
• ¹⁴Samaritans, suicides in England 2023
• ¹⁵ Samaritains 2021 Research briefing on gender and suicide