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Men’sMen s Mental Health inMassachusettsMichael Addis, Ph.D.Departmentpof PsychologyygyClark Universitymaddis@clarku.edumaddis@clarku edu
A Crucial Starting PointM t l PhMental,Physical,i l BBrain,iPsychological.Whatever you CallIt THE PROBLEMS ARE REALREAL,,PAINFUL,, AND COSTLYPAINFUL
Consequences of Undetectedand Untreated Mental h i l
Some Facts about Men’s MentalHlthHealthMen Die an average of 7 years younger than women Are four times more likely than women to commitsuicide Are less likely to seek help for virtually *every*problem Drop out of treatment more quickly Ask fewer questions of physiciansasked fewer questions by physicians Are *asked*
Some Facts about Men’s MentalHealth in MassachusettsPercentage of Population Reporting atLeast 14 Mentally Unhealthy Days ina Month:MalesFemalesMassachusetts7.910.9United States8.411.4Source: National Center for Chronic DiseasePrevention and Health Promotion
More Facts about Men’s MentalHealth in MassachusettsSuicide Rates Per 100,000100 000MalesFemalesMassachusetts12.93.3United States18.44.8Source: Centers for Disease Control
Compared to women, men in the U.S.:Violent CrimeSubstance AbuseDDepressioni andd AnxietyA i t?Help--Seeking for Mental and Physical HealthHelpProblems4:1 Suicide Ratio
Mental Health Services in MALeadership in Cutting EdgeResearchPer capita Expenditures at orAbove National AveragesBroadly Speaking, ManyEffective Services
When it comes to Men’s MentalHealth in MA:The challenge is not the need for developmentof new treatments.The challenge is that men often do notrecognizegmental health issues in theirown lives, and do not seek help.
2 Steps for Increasing Men’sAccess to Effective MentalHealth Services:1 Understand Obstacles to Access1.Wh t BoysWhatBandd MenMHaveHLearned:LdStigma * Fear
What does it mean to ‘be a man’?
GEICO CommercialClient:“That’s why yellow makes me sad, I think.”Therapist:“That’sThat s interestinginteresting. You know what makes mesad. You Do! Maybe we should chug on over tomamby pamby land and maybe we can findsome selflf confidencefidforf you – you jackj k wagon!”!”Tissue? [throws the box out of reach from the client]You cry baby!
2 Steps for Increasing Men’sAccess to Effective MentalHealth Services:2 Remove Obstacles to Access2.EdEducate,t Normalize,NliDDestigmatizetiti
Challenge the Stigma:menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov/http://
Conclusions1 The Costs of Lack of Attention to1.Men’s Mental Heath inMassachusetts are SubstantialSubstantial.2. The Costs of Starting aStatewide ConversationAre Relatively Small.Small3. The Potential Payoffsare HugeHuge.
Some Facts about Men’s Mental Health in MassachusettsHealth in Massachusetts Percentage of Population Reporting at Least 14 Mentally Unhealthy Days in a Month: Males Females Massachusetts 7.9 10.9 United States 8.4 11.4 Source: National Center for Chronic
