What causes anxiety and depression in men?

It's not easy to say exactly what causes depression and anxiety – it's different for everyone. Sometimes a difficult time in you or your mates' life can set off depression or anxiety; sometimes it's caused by a combination of things that have built up over time. And sometimes, there's just no obvious cause at all.

Some risk factors for men developing depression or anxiety include:

  • physical health problems
  • relationship problems
  • employment problems
  • social isolation
  • significant change in living arrangements (e.g. separation or divorce)
  • pregnancy and birth of a baby
  • drug and alcohol use.

Read about other causes of depression and causes of anxiety.

Depression and anxiety can affect some men more than others.