Whether you’re a man or a woman, when depression strikes, you may feel lost and confused. Sadly, there is a disconnect between gender and depression perception. In other words, people don’t see depression in women and depression in men the same way. As a result, it may be more difficult for you to get the help you need. If you need treatment for depression, addiction, or both, contact Promises Behavioral Health today to learn about your treatment options.
Why are Gender and Depression Perception Related?
There are many elements that can play into whether or not a person will suffer from mental health problems such as depression. Genetics and environment have long been known to be major contributors. Now, scientists are looking at the role that gender plays in this illness, how it contributes to the way it is treated, and how the public reacts. According to a recent Science Daily release, it is assumed that women are much more likely to be caricatured as depressed than men. As depression is considered to be a stereotype of mental illness, psychologists James Wirth of Purdue and Galen Bodenhausen of Northwestern set out to determine if stereotypes play into the public’s reaction to those with mental health problems.
What Did the Study Say About the Connection Between Gender and Depression Perception
The two created two fictitious characters, Karen and Brian, for a national survey. Karen showed all the classic symptoms of major depression, while Brian was the stereotypical alcoholic. In some cases, the two roles were switched. When participants read about these people, they expressed much more anger and disgust—and less sympathy—for Brian the alcoholic than for Karen the alcoholic. These participants were also much more willing to help either Brian or Karen when they suffered from an atypical disorder.
All of the participants were much more likely to view Brian’s depression and Karen’s alcoholism (when presented as such) as genuine biological disorders instead of character defects or matters of personal irresponsibility. In other words, even if a male experiences problems with alcohol that are born out of depression, he will not be viewed as someone suffering a debilitating problem. The results of this study highlight how stereotypes play into the way in which people are treated when they are suffering from a mental illness. When it is combined with substance abuse, the sympathy is much more lacking, even though it may be much more needed.
Get Treatment at Promises Behavioral Health
At Promises Behavioral Health, we help people who struggle with the effects of addiction and mental health problems. No matter what gender and depression perception you struggle with, we can help. With our dual diagnosis treatment program, we can treat both your addiction and your mental health issue simultaneously. This method of treatment gives you the best possible chance for recovery.
As part of our dual diagnosis treatment program, we offer a variety of evidence-based and holistic treatments. Evidence-based treatments are therapeutic methods that addiction treatment experts have studied extensively. As a result, we have proof that these methods work to treat both addiction and depression. Likewise, we can also use holistic therapies to treat addiction. However, we use them primarily to address the damage addiction caused in a person’s mind, body, and soul. A few of our therapeutic modalities include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Equine-assisted psychotherapy
- Yoga therapy
- Meditation therapy
In order to overcome the problems that gender and depression perception cause in your life, seeking treatment is critical. To learn more about your treatment options or to enroll in treatment, contact Promises Behavioral Health today at 844.875.5609.