Ashley Riley (Northamptonshire, UK), a dad who successfully switched to an alternative depression treatment
Latest NHS data reveals a gender paradox: men seek mental health care less, and end up being hospitalized more. While stigma remains a big reason for undertreated depression, doctors explain why standard treatments like antidepressants may not work well for men.
New NHS data highlights a gender paradox in mental health care: while in April, over 1.1 million women and 979,398 men were in contact with mental health services, men were more likely to be hospitalised. At month’s end, 14,592 men had open hospital spells – nearly 60% more than women (8,858).
Behind the numbers are real stories — and a consistent pattern. Men often wait until things are severe before seeking help, or never do. And when they do reach out, the system doesn’t always meet them where they are.
“‘Why is daddy crying in the bathroom so much?’ was excruciating to hear,” shares Ashley Riley from Northamptonshire, UK, a father of two, who struggled with severe depression and anxiety. “You don’t want your children to see their dad, this physically big guy who’s usually fun, in a mess.”
Mr. Riley is one of 12.5% of UK men who experience depression. Only 36% of them get referrals to therapy or counseling with a mental health professional.
While men continue to struggle, undertreated, doctors weigh in on the reasons. Alongside the well-documented impact of stigma, experts point to a less recognized factor: a disconnect between men’s specific needs and what standard therapies typically offer.
A featured personal story highlights these challenges and reflects on the experience with alternative treatment.
What’s behind the fear of seeking help?
“Before I went through this, I thought people with mental health problems were a bit weak, a bit fragile. I’ve been smacked around the face with a realization: it happens to absolutely anyone,” shares Mr. Riley.
Stigma is one of the biggest reasons why men hesitate to seek mental health help, studies confirm.
“From what I see in my practice, many men perceive seeking mental health care as weak, especially as it involves emotional disclosure. Men feel ashamed to show that they struggle too—it goes against societal expectations of masculinity,” explains Dr. Hannah Nearney, Psychiatrist, Founder of Anchor Psychiatry Group, and UK Medical Director at Flow Neuroscience, a healthcare company that focuses on tDCS therapy-based wearables.
Anxieties around psychiatric medications also play a role, the doctor adds.
“Antidepressants’ common side effects, especially sexual dysfunction and fatigue, often deter men from turning to mental health professionals,” Dr. Nearney mentions.
Men prefer alternative approaches to mental health treatments
While the rate of medicalized treatment among males is up to twice as low, many men express interest in drug-free therapies.
“There’s a good side—I see more and more men feeling enthusiastic about group counseling. However, most still lean towards therapies that leverage comfortable distance and are more compatible with daily life. This includes phone-based talking therapy, self-help guides, or even brain stimulation devices. And it’s in our best interest to accommodate for that,” says Dr. Kultar Singh Garcha, NHS General Practitioner and Global Medical Director at Flow Neuroscience.
While talking therapy is not a new technique, neuromodulation has only started emerging since large clinical trials have shown potential during the last decade. Most of the brain stimulation devices utilize electrical currents or magnetic fields to target specific brain circuits associated with mood regulation, stress, and anxiety.
The use of such tools can be helpful for men in particular, doctors explain.
“Most men enjoy the technological and modern approach to health. In this sense, mental health devices can be especially effective—they remove the initial psychological barrier to seeking treatment and help bypass the fears around medications’ side effects,” explains Dr. Garcha.
Many patients experience major mental health improvements from brain stimulation tools, often surpassing the results of drug therapies.
“I’m able to work again, I’m able to be a dad and be a husband in the way I need to be,” concluded Riley.
After medications alone failed to help, he incorporated a Flow’s brain stimulation device into his depression treatment. The mentioned device was NHS-approved following a successful large-cohort clinical trial to treat major depressive disorder, with the latest studies showing potential in curing insomnia, reducing anxiety, and stress.
Experts concluded that the latest NHS data proves the need for reducing stigma, providing solutions tailored for men, and finding ways to reach them before the cases become severe.
About Flow Neuroscience
Flow Neuroscience is a UK-based healthcare company that focuses on tDCS therapies and devices. In 2016, it was co-founded in Sweden by Daniel Mansson, a clinical psychologist, and Erik Rehn, an engineer. Erin Lee joined as CEO in 2022, having previously worked at Google, Uber, and Babylon. Flow is the only at-home medical tDCS device with clinically proven effectiveness in treating depression. It is not only used by the National Health Service (NHS), but also available and has passed regulations in Europe, Norway, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.
