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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 16 UCW JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2023 Mental health issues that affect men a STAFF REPORT Studies have shown that men have historically been less likely to report mental health issues than women. Lower rates of self-reporting among men may be attributable to a number of factors, including the stigma that's still attached to the issue of mental health. Mental health issues can affect all aspects of a person's life, and if left untreated, these issues can have grave consequences. Men are not immune to those consequences. In fact, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention indicates age-adjusted suicide rates are substantially higher among men than women. Among men, that rate is 14 per 100,000, which is more than twice as high as the rate among women (6.1 per 100,000). ere's no formula to identify which men will develop a mental health issue or which condition they might experience. But it's worth noting some of the more common mental health issues, and equally important that all men recognize these issues can affect any man at any time. Anxiety: e U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that anxiety disorders affect roughly 20% of the adult population in the United States each year. Anxiety is an umbrella term that al- ludes to a number of issues that each produce their own symptoms and side effects, but the DHHS notes that anxi- ety disorders are marked by feelings of fear and uncertainty that interfere with everyday activities. ese feelings persist for six months or more and can increase a person's risk for heart disease, diabetes, sub- stance abuse and depression. Depression: e World Health Organization reports that roughly 5% of the global adult population suffers from depression. Depression is more than the feel- ings of sadness that everyone experi- ences from time to time. e National Institute of Mental Health notes that depression produces persistent feel- ings of sadness, anxiety or an "empty" mood. Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism are some additional char- acteristics of depression. It's important to recognize that these symptoms must be persistent. Symptoms that persist for at least two weeks and interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, study,and eat may indicate major depression, while less severe symptoms that last for at least two years suggest the presence of persistent depressive disorder. Substance Use Disorder: e Na- tional Center for Drug Abuse Statistics has identified substance use disorder as a public health emergency. Sta- tistics support that assertion, as data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicates more than 20 mil- lion Americans ages 12 and over are affected by a substance use disorder. ough anyone, including children, can develop substance use disorder, a 2016 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis- tration indicated that men have higher rates of use or dependence on illicit drugs and alcohol than women. e National Institutes of Health notes that substance use disorder affects a person's brain and behav- ior, which makes them incapable of controlling their use of substances, including medication and alcohol. Men are no less vulnerable to mental health issues than women. e NIMH urges individuals in crisis or people who suspect someone is in crisis to call 911 or to call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. More information about mental health can be found at nimh.nih.gov. HEALTH It's worth noting some of the more common mental health issues that can affect men. C u st o m C a teri n g by T w o B r o t h ers eVineNC.com or TwoBrothersCateringNC.com 806 Katie Street Fayetteville NC (O Owen Drive behind O-Reilly's) Make your special day one that everyone will remember! Call 910-584-9892 Serving You Since 2004 Lakeside WEDDING, BANQUET & EVENT VENUE Fayetteville's Newest Venue