Is there an epidemic of depression amongst men?

ITV1's Tonight programme takes a look at the stigma surrounding male depression. Credit: Tonight/ITV

It’s a condition which the World Health Organisation predicts within a decade will be more disabling than cancer.

Depression is an illness one in five of us will suffer from at some point in our lives. Experts fear the statistics mask a hidden epidemic of male depression, because men are less willing to ask for help.

On ITV1’s ‘Tonight’ programme at 7.30pm, Penny Marshall takes a close look at male depression and the stigma that surrounds it.

  • Do women really suffer from depression more than men?

  • Or is it that men just don’t talk about it?

Former England rugby player Duncan Bell hid his depression for years before recently being honest about it ahead of a mental health rugby conference.

Duncan Bell during rugby training. Credit: Tonight/ITV
Editor of Nuts magazine Pete Cashmore said the condition is 'emasculating' Credit: Tonight/ITV

Another person who knows what the feeling is like is Pete Cashmore, Editor at large of men's magazine Nuts and a sufferer of depression himself.

Duke McKenzie is a former world champion boxer. For the last seven years, he's been inspiring sufferers of male depression at his gym in Croydon.

Duke McKenzie helps sufferers of depression at his gym. Credit: Tonight/ITV

Many of the men Duke sees at his exercise classes are referrals from the charity MIND, and an increasing number of them are unemployed.

Macclesfield Town football Club play’s host to ‘It’s a Goal', an all male support group, where they use football as a metaphor to address their issues. For some of them the eleven week course has been a life changing experience.

'It's a Goal' meeting. Credit: Tonight/ITV

Adam, a participant on the course said:

GP Sarah Jarvis offers advice for those who think they may be suffering from depression. She offers help with how to deal with the condition and where to find help.

If you think you may be suffering from depression and would like help you can contact: