Depression Treatment for Men and Adolescent Boys
Although women are diagnosed with depression at roughly twice the rate of men globally, men die by suicide at nearly twice the rate of women. These statistics suggest that men and women face different barriers to having depression recognized, discussed, and treated.
Depression in Men and Boys Can Be Harder to Recognize
For many boys and men, depression is closely tied to loss and hardship—a death, lost livelihood, missed opportunity, family conflict, illness, or an inability to provide. Expectations of self-reliance can make it difficult to acknowledge distress or seek help. Men may also be less likely to come forward for screening, enroll in treatment, or attend groups consistently.
Depression can appear as sadness, hopelessness, irritability, withdrawal, difficulty concentrating, harmful alcohol use, or other changes in behavior. None of these symptoms is unique to men, but depression can be missed when distress is understood only as visible sadness.
A Severe Gap in Care
The shortage of care in sub-Saharan Africa deepens these barriers. An estimated nine in ten people with a mental health condition receive no treatment. For men, limited access is compounded by stigma and pressure to cope alone.
Why Group Interpersonal Therapy Works
Group Interpersonal Therapy (IPT-G) begins with the problems participants recognize in their own lives—grief, lost income, illness, isolation, or conflict—and learn how they trigger depression.
In a structured group, men build communication and problem-solving skills, strengthen sources of support, and develop ways to cope with loss and change.
StrongMinds’ depression treatment model helps men and boys overcome stigma while building social connections, communication skills, and practical problem-solving abilities. In turn, they develop greater personal agency and stronger relationships within their families and communities.
Read more in our forthcoming Men and Boys Report (launching October 2026).