More men are struggling with recession depression
In a bid to tackle the growing problem, St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin, which specialises in treating psychiatric issues, has just launched a help group aimed specifically at men struggling to cope during the recession.
The “therapeutic and lifestyle” group was launched last Thursday on a pilot basis and will run for two days a week for four weeks. It is hoped the project can be rolled out on a full-time basis in the near future.
Edel Fortune, clinical manager at the wellness and recovery centre at St Patrick’s Hospital, said more men are presenting with a range of mental health issues as a result of the economic downturn.
“There is definitely an increase in people who are suffering as a result of economic difficulties they are facing. It’s not just depression, but also anxiety and stress are major factors also,” she said.
Ms Fortune said the group was aimed specifically at men as they tend to keep problems to themselves rather than sharing them with friends or relatives.
“I think, particularly with men, they do not seem to have the same support structure as women. Women tend to speak to their group of friends about problems.
“Men tend not to want to talk about it. If they are with a group, they don’t want to be the odd one out.”
Figures released by the National Suicide Research Foundation revealed an 11% increase in self-harm among men over the past 12 months.
According to Aware, which provides support for those suffering from depression, there are approximately 400,000 people in Ireland suffering from the condition.
Women are three to four times more likely than men to suffer from depression, but men are more likely to die by suicide due to a their tendency to keep troubles to themselves.
According to Ms Fortune, such stark statistics point to the need for an increased focus on mental health issues, particularly during a recession.
“Mental health becomes less of a concern when jobs are lost and money becomes tight. During a recession is not something that’s likely to get highlighted on the news.
“People tend to think only in terms of their finances but when their mental health suffers, whole families are impacted.”
* Mental health support and information about the therapeutic and lifestyle group are available at 01-2493333 and info@stpatsmail.com.
