Male Suicide and Mental Health - Break the stigma, save a life

Content warning: this blog post discusses suicide and mental health issues that some readers may find upsetting.

Samaritans has produced a full research report about male suicide called which can be read here.

Suicide and poor mental health is something which is still very under-discussed in society, in my opinion, and is something that people need to be more open about. Whilst suicide affects both males and females, males are at a higher risk of suicide than females. In the UK, men are three times more likely than women to commit suicide, with the highest suicide rate being men aged 40-44 in 2017 (read the full 2017 suicide report by Samaritans here). Data collected by Samaritans indicates that male suicide supersedes female suicide in all age categories, however, and in all areas of the UK. The 2017 report did also find that female suicide is on the rise and male suicide dropped a little from 2016 though, according to Samaritans, it is too early to tell whether this is a natural fluctuation or the beginning of a new trend. So, in a society where 75% of suicides are male, why is there not an open dialogue or clear support system to protect men and save their lives? Why do men consistently have higher suicide rates than women? And what can we, as a society, do to help them?

With high-profile male suicides from people such as Avicii and Scott Hutchison, we are facing a pandemic that needs to be addressed. With an invisible illness such as depression, the conversation about the issue is long overdue but now is the time to save a life and increase awareness of male mental health.

I do not want this post to be received as me saying "oh men have it harder than women", not at all. But we cannot ignore the fact that suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 45. If we are to truly move forward as a feminist society, then there needs to be an equal conversation to protect people of all genders, to ensure nobody is left behind or forgotten about in this vital conversation.

Male suicide can be attributed to many factors, and the report linked above (as well as other information online and on the Samaritans website) provides an insight into male mental health and possible contributing factors of male suicide. One I would like to focus on is the societal expectations placed on men to be strong, emotionless, and unaffected by life's unexpected events. Phrases such as "man up" or "grow some balls" are toxic and reiterate within men that they should not display any sense of vulnerability because to do so would go against societal expectations and may lead to ridicule.

Society needs to tell men that it is okay to be strong, but it is also okay to not be strong and to feel emotions or pain. Society needs to learn that men should find a healthy outlet for their emotions and that it is okay to seek help if they need it. It is not a sign of weakness to show your vulnerability but, rather, a sign of strength that you are in tune with your inner self.

Society has bred men to be strong and emotionless, but nobody is emotionless. As a result, men are left feeling at a loss of how to express their feelings. This leads to them hiding their emotions, resulting in a dangerous explosive eruption of emotion. A society which imprints its expectations onto men causes them to bottle their emotions up, find other (perhaps self-destructive) ways to cope with their pain or mental health, and ultimately leads to suicide in many.

As more awareness about male mental health is becoming more prominent, many charities and groups have arisen to provide support for men who are suffering - providing them a safe space to talk and learn about their mental health. Being Mankind is a charity I have mentioned in one of my previous posts and they are doing work to increase awareness and support for men's mental health. Their campaign aims to open up a dialogue and provide stories from men of many different backgrounds who all have their own experience of what it means to "be a man". Being Mankind has published a book to raise funds and spread their message. The crux of their campaign is to break down gender stereotypes and remove phrases such as "man up" from society altogether. This will create an equal plane for people to feel comfortable about dealing with their mental health. By supporting the cause and buying a book, Being Mankind donates another book to a school or youth organisation to aid with their educational programme.

Recently I have also seen a community group on Facebook be created for one of the local towns in my area. The page has been set up to provide a community for men to discuss and seek support for any issues they are having related to mental health. Groups like this are so important and this is an example of a group working to provide support and break down the stigma of male mental health and a "man up" society. Although it is heartbreaking that groups like this need to exist in the first place, as humans we need to support one another because suicide and poor mental health is not easy to spot and you never know whose life you could be saving.

This post is brief in the wider conversation that needs to be had on male mental health and male suicide but it provides an insight into my perspective of the situation. This may be a topic I revisit in the future but, for now, this is what I have to say on the matter.

For anyone struggling with their mental health, seek support if you need it. Know that you are not alone and you are loved. Even when you are having one of the hardest days of your life, remember that pain is just temporary and tomorrow a new day will start. It's never to late to have a fresh start, you can make it through this and you can turn your life around.

If you are reading this and are worried about someone you know, reach out to them and check in with how they are doing. Your conversation could open up a dialogue and save that person's life.

Now is the time to break the stigma and save a life!

Suicide Prevention Helplines:

If you are feeling down, depressed, or suicidal at all, do not suffer alone. Speak to someone about it. If you do not feel comfortable speaking to friends or family and would like a more confidential or private service then there are people who can help you. Whilst appropriate help and funding may not be provided by the government yet, there are several charities on hand that are available to listen to you. Here are a few contact details for helplines that provide safe and confidential help and advice.

Samaritans
Phone Number: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org

Mind
Phone Number: 0300 123 3393

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Phone Number: 0800 58 58 58

Papyrus
Phone Number: 0800 068 41 41
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org