Men and Depression

State of the Art, Inc. has been funded by NIMH for Phase I research to develop a health promotion campaign to address men living with depression. Through video and print, the campaign will promote awareness and treatment of depression; educate viewer about depression specifically in relationship to men; address the stigma associated with depression; and discuss causes, including life events that can lead to depression. The materials will encourage men to use support networks, including professional and social, and medications to nurture mental health and good decision-making for health. Three age-specific videos and companion booklets will address the specific needs and experiences of college aged men, working aged men and retired men.

An estimated 18 million Americans suffer from depression. Because of misdiagnosis, under-diagnosis, and the stigma associated with seeking treatment for mental illness, 2/3 of those who suffer from the disease do not receive proper treatment. Although women are usually considered twice as likely as men to suffer from depression, experts are beginning to think that men are affected at least as often as women, and that for decades depression has been under-diagnosed in men (Inlander, Dealing with Depression, 1999). There are many consequences of untreated depression, the ultimate consequence of untreated depression, suicide, effect men more than women. Men diagnosed with depression are half as likely as women to seek professional help, and they are three times more likely than women to die from suicide, which is often brought on by depression. White men over age 80 constitute the highest risk group for suicide, and are six times more likely to die from suicide than the general population; however, depression affects men of all races and ethnicities (National Mental Health Association, 1996). Despite these data, the majority of educational resources are target women creating a need from materials that educate men about how depression affects men. This project will target educational materials to raise awareness about the depression in men.

Our nationally recognized board of advisors for this project includes:

• Robert Carney, PhD, Professor, Dept of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine
• Maurizio Fava, MD, Director, Depression Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Bruce Liese, PhD, ABPP, Professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Kansas
• Daniel Mendelson, Program Director, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
• Michael Von Korff, PhD, ScD, Sr. Scientific Investigator, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound

For more information or to become involved, please contact:

State of the Art, Inc.

phone: (202) 537-0818
fax: (202)-537-0828

Confidential and Proprietary