This study was conducted to better understand primary care providers’ experience of treating males with depression. A grounded theory approach explored the contradiction that males in the United States die by suicide four times as often as females, yet females are diagnosed with depression twice as often as males. The study is guided by the proposition that gender roles are socially constructed & it is shown that common masculine gender-role stereotypes influence males’ sense of self in ways that can limit their ability to engage others in times of need, & consequently increase their risk for depression & suicide. (46 refs.)