Heart Disease and Men: The Signs, the Risks, and What Lowers Them
October 28, 2026
Healthy Children, Strong Habits: Movement, Sleep, and Food
October 28, 2026
By The Redeemer Sports
Here is a gap worth understanding. Men are less likely than women to have received mental health treatment in the past year. And men are far more likely to die by suicide – in 2023, the US suicide rate among males was nearly four times the rate among females (22.8 versus 5.9 per 100,000). Suicide claimed 49,316 American lives that year, and it was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34.
Those numbers come from the National Institute of Mental Health, and they describe a pattern, not a character flaw. Part of the problem is that mental health struggles in men often do not look the way people expect them to look.
Key takeaways
- Men’s struggles often do not look like sadness – anger, sleep changes, risk-taking, and unexplained aches can all be signs.
- The male suicide rate was nearly four times the female rate in 2023 (22.8 vs 5.9 per 100,000).
- Treatment works, and earlier is better – a primary care provider is a good place to start.
- Call or text 988 – the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and answers 24/7.
The signs that hide
When most people picture depression, they picture sadness. But the NIMH notes that men and women can develop most of the same mental disorders while experiencing different symptoms. The list for men includes plenty that never read as “sad”:
- Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness
- Noticeable changes in mood, energy level, or appetite
- Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
- Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless or on edge
- Increased worry or feeling stressed
- Misuse of alcohol, drugs, or both
- Feeling flat, or trouble feeling positive emotions
- Engaging in high-risk activities
- Aches, headaches, or digestive problems without a clear cause
- Thoughts or behaviors that interfere with work, family, or social life
Persistent sadness and hopelessness belong on the list too – but a man does not have to feel sad to be struggling. NIMH’s depression guidance adds that because men may be less likely to recognize, talk about, and seek help for these feelings, their symptoms carry a greater risk of going undiagnosed and undertreated.
What actually helps
Two things stand out in the NIMH’s guidance.
Treatment works, and earlier is better
First, treatment works, and earlier is better. Mental disorders can be treated, and the earlier treatment begins, the more effective it can be. A primary care provider is a good place to start – they can rule out physical causes and refer you to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker. You do not need the right vocabulary to make that appointment. “Something is off and I want to talk about it” is a complete sentence.
Crisis support: the 988 Lifeline
Second, crisis support is one call or text away. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. It is for anyone in emotional distress, not only people in immediate crisis. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
Checking in on each other
The NIMH’s advice for the people around a struggling man is simple: if you see the signs in someone you know, encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional. You do not have to diagnose anything or say the perfect thing. Asking “how are you really doing?” and meaning it, then pointing toward help, is a real contribution.
The bottom line
Men’s mental health struggles are common, often quiet, and treatable. Know the signs that do not look like sadness, take your own seriously, save 988 in your phone, and ask your friends the real question once in a while.
A note before you act: This article is for general education and is not medical advice. If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
More from The Redeemer Sports: Heart Disease and Men: The Signs, the Risks, and What Lowers Them.
Frequently asked questions
What does depression look like in men?
Not always sadness. The NIMH lists anger or irritability, changes in mood, energy, or appetite, sleep problems, restlessness, increased worry, alcohol or drug misuse, feeling flat, high-risk activities, and aches without a clear cause. A man does not have to feel sad to be struggling.
Where should a man start if something feels off?
A primary care provider is a good first step – they can rule out physical causes and refer you to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker. “Something is off and I want to talk about it” is enough to make the appointment.
What is the 988 Lifeline?
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. It is for anyone in emotional distress. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
How can I help a friend who is struggling?
The NIMH’s advice is simple: encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional. You do not have to diagnose anything or say the perfect thing – asking “how are you really doing?” and meaning it is a real contribution.
Sources
- NIMH, Men and Mental Health (men less likely to have received mental health treatment in the past year; symptom list; treatment works and earlier is more effective; primary care as a starting point; 988 Lifeline): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health
- NIMH, Suicide (2023: male suicide rate 22.8 per 100,000 vs female 5.9; 49,316 deaths; second leading cause of death ages 10-34): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide
- NIMH, Depression (men less likely to recognize, talk about, and seek help for symptoms; encourage others to seek help): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression
Source pages retrieved October 28, 2026.
