By Dr. Gbenga Oyeyemi (MBChB, DTH)
Depression is a mental state of persistent low mood and reduced motivation. It affects how a person thinks, behaves, feels, and experiences the world. Activities that once brought joy become dull. Concentration weakens. Sleep patterns shift, some sleep too much, others struggle to sleep at all. Appetite may increase or disappear. In severe cases, suicidal thoughts may occur.
Globally, depression affects more than 300 million people, according to the World Health Organization. It can be a temporary response to life events, such as the loss of a loved one, or a symptom of mood disorders like major depressive illness, bipolar disorder, or dysthymia. It may also arise from physical illnesses or as a side effect of certain medications.
Across many African countries, the burden of depression is intensified by limited access to mental‑health services, cultural stigma, and under‑resourced healthcare systems. While global data shows rising awareness and improved treatment options, African regions continue to face gaps in diagnosis and support, making community‑based care, education, and early intervention essential.
Factors That Contribute to Depression
Depression does not come from a single source. Multiple factors can shape their onset:
Childhood adversity: Bereavement, neglect, emotional or physical abuse, sexual abuse, and unequal treatment increase depression risk 3-4 times.
Environmental stress: Poor housing, noise, and air pollution contribute to depressive symptoms.
Locality: Smaller communities often show higher depression rates than larger urban areas.
Life transitions: Childbirth, menopause, unemployment, financial strain, divorce, military service, academic pressure, and traumatic experiences such as bullying, rape, or natural disasters.
Medical conditions: Cancer, HIV, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
Workplace stress: Excessive workload, workplace bullying, and personality disorders.
LGBTQ youth: Higher depression rates due to stigma, rejection, and identity‑related stress.
Medication side effects: Beta‑blockers, finasteride, GnRH analogues, antipsychotics.
Substance use: Alcohol, sedatives, opioids, and hallucinogens can trigger or worsen depression.
Depression is a complex interplay of biology, environment, and lived experience.
The Weight Men Carry
Men often carry emotional burdens silently. Cultural expectations teach boys early to suppress vulnerability, avoid emotional expression, and “be strong.” These lessons follow them into adulthood, shaping how they respond to stress, trauma, and mental‑health challenges.
Many men:
Minimize their symptoms
Hide emotional pain
Avoid seeking help
Turn to substances for relief
Isolate themselves
Fear being perceived as weak
Believe they must solve problems alone
This silence has consequences.
Suicide: A Public Health Reality
While suicide statistics vary globally, the pattern remains consistent: men die by suicide at significantly higher rates than women. Women attempt more; men die more. This disparity is linked to men’s tendency to hide symptoms longer and use more lethal means when in crisis.
In many African countries, suicide is underreported due to stigma, cultural beliefs, and limited mental‑health infrastructure. However, global trends show that more than 700,000 people die by suicide every year, and for every death, many more attempt it.
Across regions, 90% of people who die by suicide are experiencing a mental‑health crisis, often untreated or unrecognized.
Understanding this pattern is essential for prevention.
Management and Support:
Treatment for depression varies depending on severity and underlying causes.
Antidepressants should not be the routine first‑line treatment.
Psychotherapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is highly effective.
Pharmacotherapy may be used when clinically indicated.
Mental‑health assessments, such as the Beck Depression Inventory, help guide diagnosis and treatment.
Support systems, family, community, and professional care play a crucial role in recovery.
In African communities, strengthening local mental‑health education, reducing stigma, and improving access to trained professionals are critical steps toward better outcomes.
A Path Forward:
Depression is not a weakness. It is not a failure of character or masculinity. It is a medical condition that deserves attention, compassion, and evidence‑based care.
Men must be encouraged to speak, seek help, and understand that vulnerability is not a loss of strength, it is a step toward healing.
Silence deepens suffering.
Conversation opens the door to recovery.
