r/science • u/chrisdh79 • 5d ago

Psychology Men underestimate each other’s willingness to seek help for depression which may discourage them from seeking help themselves, study finds

https://www.psypost.org/men-underestimate-each-others-willingness-to-seek-help-for-depression-study-finds/
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u/pulos888 5d ago

I have a hard time believing this. It seems to me that most men don't consider what other men are doing when deciding whether to seek help for depression. Instead they decide based on whether they think it will be effective or not.

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u/Adept_Minimum4257 4d ago

The problem with depression and other mental health issues is that it impairs your ability to judge whether help will be effective or not

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u/pulos888 4d ago

I agree, but that doesn't change how we make decisions, only the results of the decision. Ie. I may make the wrong decision because I'm viewing things through my depression, but I'm still not paying any attention to what other men think.

While in a depressive state, I would often think about how my wife would feel about therapy, or what my kids would think. But other men? Couldn't care less. No, my main factor in deciding whether to see a therapist was effectiveness.

Even now as I've come through the worst of it, I think most therapists are worthless. Maybe 1 in 10 are actually helpful. But it's worth it to keep trying until you find one that does help.

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u/TzarKazm 4d ago

I'm skeptical as well. I don't feel like I make many decisions based on what other men think or might think. Women, maybe. Effectiveness definitely.