Most people would probably prefer not to take any medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The concern every parent has when deciding to use medication or not during pregnancy is whether their actions could harm their unborn child. Many also assume giving medication to the birthing parent will harm the fetus. This idea is false and harmful because during pregnancy, mother and fetus are inseparable, otherwise known as a dyad.

The biggest harm with an all-or-nothing approach is this: when medications are stopped, changed, or not started during pregnancy, this can cause mental health issues that result in pregnancy complications.

Men suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are diagnosed at half the rate of women but die by suicide 3 to 4 times as frequently (Swetlitz, 2021). Researchers argue that one of the key reasons behind this phenomenon is how societal gender processes affect how men and boys present depression and that “male-typical” symptoms of depression should be incorporated when assessing a diagnosis (Swetlitz, 2021). This literature review will cover the background and significance of MDD, how it affects young adult men, and how counselors can appropriately support this population. It will also focus on the role of other identity layers, such as culture, race, and economic status, in young adult men with MDD. In the results, one will find several critical influences behind why gender-role cultures create a bias toward men being underdiagnosed with depression. This will also cover how men suffering from this disorder can present in ways that might not be seen as a traditional diagnosis for MDD.