Male future bleak – psychiatrist

Men in the western world may face a bleak and depressing future because of changing culture, a psychiatrist claims today.

At present depression is most common among women – but according to Dr Boadie Dunlop, this is about to change.

Writing in the British Journal of Psychiatry, Dr Dunlop argues that growing numbers of women are becoming the main bread-winner in the household – and fewer men. This currently applies to just 22 per cent of couples.

He also believes that the trend to encouraging men to reveal their feelings will also increase depression rates.

Dr Dunlop, of Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, writes: "Western men will face a difficult road in the 21st century, particularly those with low levels of education.

"We believe economic and societal changes will have significant implications for men’s mental health, and mental health practitioners need to be aware of these issues."

He says the economic recession has hit traditionally male jobs especially hard.

Together with colleague, Tanja Mletzko, he states: "Women are almost twice as likely to develop major depressive disorder in their lifetime as men. But we believe this difference may well change in the coming decades."

Dunlop BW and Mletzko T. Will current socioeconomic trends produce a depressing future for men? British Journal of Psychiatry 2011; 198: 167-168