Latest trends in depression indicate that men are highly affected. The likelihood of a death occurring as a result of depression is three times higher in men compared to women.
A survey undertaken by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics noted that the likelihood of a Kenyan man to commit suicide was more than that of a woman. In 2017, the cases of suicides reported to police across the country were 421. However, only91 of these cases were women.
According to a World Health Organisation report released in 2017, the majority of suicide cases in Kenya are as a result of depression.
Here are some of the causes of depression among men.
1. Debts
Men are supposed to take care of the family. This pressure to provide leads to measures such as taking loans. Inability to clear these loans causes them to accumulate. As a result, the debts pile up and by believing that he has no option left, as well as wanting to escape feeling ashamed, the man ends up committing suicide.
2. Hiding suffering
In the African traditional setting, a man is not supposed to show any signs of weakness. This is taken to be a sign of strength. However, most men are taking their lives as a result of suffering in silence. It is high time we teach our boys how to disclose what might be disturbing them.
3. High expectations from society
The society is overburdening men with expectations. As a man, you are expected to build a house for your family, cater to your family's needs, secure a good job and deal with other pressures from your spouse and extended family. When a man is unable to take care of all these needs, he might end up falling into depression and committing suicide.