Teenagers in the United States are facing a mental health crisis, with over half of high school girls and almost a third of teenage boys reporting persistent feelings of “sadness or hopelessness,” according to a recent nationally representative survey. However, psychologists believe that the actual situation might be even worse for boys as the way they experience depression differs from girls, leading to an underestimation of their struggles on typical surveys.
The survey, conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Adolescent and School Health, collected data from over 17,000 students in 31 states, covering a range of mental health, suicidal thoughts, sexual behavior, substance use, and experiences of violence.
Despite the fact that both boys and girls experienced a considerable rise in chronic melancholy or hopelessness between 2011 and 2021, experts contend that the gender gap may not be adequately reflected. According to research, boys and men experience depression in a different way than girls and women do. While boys are more prone to express their emotions through impatience, violence, or risky behaviour, girls are more likely to internalise their emotions. Screening techniques that concentrate on words like “sadness” and “hopelessness” frequently miss this male-specific way of experiencing depression.
In addition, cultural standards that view sorrow as a sign of weakness may discourage guys from sharing their feelings, even in anonymous questionnaires. As a result, it is thought that approximately 1 in 10 men with depression may not be detected by current screening methods.
Recognising the need for better understanding and diagnosis of male depression, researchers have developed male-specific screening tools. For instance, the Male Depression Risk Scale focuses on emotions suppression, anger, aggression, drug and alcohol use, somatic symptoms, and risk-taking, avoiding questions related to sadness or hopelessness.
Men’s depression underdiagnosis is a long-standing problem, and earlier research has shown that men and women receive different diagnoses and treatments. For instance, a suicide prevention programme in Gotland, Sweden, revealed that while overall suicide rates decreased after doctors received training on how to handle depression, the decline was mostly observed in female suicide rates. Men’s depression symptoms were frequently missed because of how they differed from traditional sadness symptoms.
Psychologists emphasise the necessity for more awareness of and conversation about boys’ and men’s mental health difficulties in order to solve this issue. In the fight against the teenage mental health crisis, it might be able to better assist and care for those who are now being ignored by using male-specific screening tools and increasing awareness of male depression.