Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Physician, Dr. Bob Farra

Men's Mental Health and Depression

Depression is a major public health problem affecting an estimated 6 million men annually. Dr. Bob Farra discusses the increase in the number of men who seek help for depression. Research suggests that men are less likely to seek treatment for this serious illness. In our culture men have been socialized to be strong and sometimes out of touch with their feelings. Depression affects twice as many women as men and questions remain to be answered about the causes underlying this gender difference. It is still not known if depression is truly less common among men, or if men are just less likely than women to recognize, acknowledge, and seek help for depression. Call in LIVE or email your questions!

Dr. Robert Farra is an expert in the treatment of depression in men. He is Coordinator of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program for the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH) Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Farra joined the department in May 2006 and has developed a five week Cognitive Behavior Therapy Group for the resolution of depressive and anxiety symptoms. This program, which is widely attended by men, allows patients to learn new skills that enable them to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and gives men the opportunity to meet others suffering with similar symptoms. In cooperation with ENH Psychotherapist, Dr. Julie Etzel, Dr. Farra developed a five week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program. This program teaches participants to use the wisdom of their bodies to help cope with the stressors of life, ranging from chronic physical illness or pain to negative thoughts and feelings about oneself. Mindfulness helps people increase their awareness about where their thoughts and attention are focused and to work toward keeping their focus in the present moment. Dr. Farra earned his doctorate from Florida State University in 1982. He interned at the Huntsville-Madison County Mental Health Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The center served as a demonstration program for the National Institute of Mental Health testing the efficacy of evidence based treatment strategies.

Melanie Cole M.S.

2008-06-11