SADNESS, hopelessness, fatigue and anxiety. These are some typical symptoms of depression that are relatively easy to recognise in ourselves or someone close to us.
However, in men, the signs are not as clear-cut. Men are more likely to avoid expressing the vulnerable emotions that come with depression.
“Instead, they might complain about physical symptoms such as sleeping and stomach problems, headaches, back pain and fatigue,” says Cassey Chambers, operations director of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag).
“Avoidance can also lead to typical symptoms being suppressed by abusing alcohol and drugs, womanising, overspending, workaholism and other high-risk behaviours,” Chambers adds.
“This hides the fact they are in need of help, and diagnosis and treatment often happen too late.”
In fact, men in South Africa are four times…
