Men and Suicide
cALL 800-273-8255 or text "sos" to 741741 A Statement
for consideration It is predicted that
the ratio, during a pandemic, becomes even more divide
because of the different risk factors that impact men and
their "responsibility" to others. How many more men than
women die by suicide when they lose their job and a
replacement is difficult to obtain? (See other
risk factors.). Psychological and personality factors
Lethal Means
Each and every suicide is a tragedy which has devastating effect on families, friends, colleagues and the wider community. The gender disparity in death by suicide is often mentioned - men are three times more likely than women to die by suicide. Even more glaring is the socio-economic inequality in suicide risk - with those in the poorest socio-economic circumstances approximately ten times more at risk than those in the most affluent conditions. The high suicide rates in young men have always received considerable public attention, despite the fact that the rates in middle aged men have been at a comparable level over the past 40 years. More recently middle aged men have become the age group at highest risk, particularly those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. This research has allowed us to really get behind the statistics and look into the real lives of these men to understand why. The vision of the Alliance is Zero Suicide and to make this vision a reality we need to understand what it is that brings so many boys and men to the point of choosing to end their lives. The research in this report will help us understand some of the reasons. It will help us provide support, support that will help them decide to go on living. This recommendation seeks to explain why men are excessively vulnerable to death by suicide and provides recommendations to reduce these unnecessary deaths. It goes beyond the existing body of suicide research and the statistics, to understand life for men, and why they may come to feel without purpose, meaning or value. The key message is that suicide needs to be addressed as a health and gender inequality – an avoidable difference in health and length of life issues that affects men more because of the way society expects them to behave. It is time to extend suicide prevention beyond its focus on individual mental health problems, to understand the social and cultural context which contributes to boys and men's feeling they wish to die. This recommendation takes as given that mental health problems play a role in most suicides. Psychological and personality factors Some personality traits and ‘mindsets’ contribute to the development of suicidal thoughts, including the belief that you must always meet the expectations of others; self-criticism; brooding; having no positive thoughts about the future and reduced social problem-solving ability. These traits can interact with factors such as deprivation, and triggering events such as relationship breakdown or job loss, to increase suicide risk. The way men are brought up to behave and the roles, attributes and behaviors that society expects of them – contributes to suicide in men. Men compare themselves against a masculine ‘gold standard’ which prizes power, control and invincibility. When men believe they are not meeting this standard, they feel a sense of shame and defeat. Having a job and being able to provide for your family is central to ‘being a man’, particularly for working class men. Masculinity is associated with control, but when men are depressed or in crisis, they can feel out of control. This can propel some men towards suicidal behavior as a way of regaining control. Men are more likely to use drugs or alcohol in response to distress. Relationship breakdown is more likely to lead men, rather than women, to suicide. Men rely more on their partners for emotional support and suffer this loss more acutely. Honor is also part of masculinity, and to be ‘disrespected’ in front of others by the actions of their partner (infidelity or abandonment) may lead to shame and/or impulsive reactions, perhaps to punish ex-partners. Men are more likely to be separated from their children and this plays a role in some men’s suicides. Emotional lives and social disconnectedness The way men are taught, through childhood, to be ‘manly’ does not emphasize social and emotional skills. Men can experience a ‘big build’ of distress, which can culminate in crisis. Men in mid-life are dependent primarily on female partners for emotional support. Women help them to recognize their own distress, provide them with care and encourage them to seek help. Women maintain close same-sex relationships across their lives, but men’s peer relationships drop away after the age of 30. Women are much more open to talking about emotions than men of all ages and social classes. Male friendships tend to be based on companionship through doing activities together. The ‘healthy’ ways men cope are using music or exercise to manage stress or worry, rather than ‘talking’. Men are much less likely than women to have a positive view of counseling or therapy. However, both men and women make use of these services at times of crisis. Men in their midyears have traditionally been viewed as the prime of life. However, there is evidence of mental ill health and a dip in subjective well being among people in their midyears, compared to young and older people. Problems with relationships and employment during mid-life are experienced intensely, because by this life-stage, people have typically invested a great deal in work and relationships and the possibilities for making changes in these areas are limited. Men currently in their midyears are the ‘buffer’ generation – caught between the traditional silent, strong, austere masculinity of their fathers and the more progressive, open and individualistic generation of their sons. They do not know which of these ways of life and masculine cultures to follow. In addition, since the 1970s, several social changes have impacted on personal lives, including rising female employment, increased partnering and de-partnering and solo-living. As a result, men in mid-life are increasingly likely to be living on their own, with little or no experience of coping emotionally or seeking help on their own, and few supportive relationships to fall back on. There are systematic socio-economic inequalities in suicide risk. Socio-economic position can be defined in many ways – by job, class, education, income, or housing. Whichever indicator is used, people in the lower positions are at higher risk of suicide. As you go down each rung of the social ladder, the risk of suicide increases, even after taking into account underlying mental health problems. There is debate over precisely how low social position increases suicide risk. Suggestions include having many more adverse experiences, powerlessness, stigma and disrespect, social exclusion, poor mental health and unhealthy lifestyles. The decline of predominantly male types of employment, such as manufacturing, has added to men's job insecurity. Men have also been affected by the general trend towards irregular work patterns, insecure or temporary work and self-employment, and the current pandemic and recession. Suicide is an individual act, the tragic culmination of mental health problems, feelings of defeat, entrapment, that one is worthless, unloved and does not matter. However, these feelings are produced within a specific social, economic and cultural context. This will show that there have been a number of significant changes in society over the last 50 years – the shift from repressive prewar to liberal postwar culture; changes to the roles of men and women and to the structures of families; economic restructuring and the decline of traditionally male industries. The impact of these processes has not been uniform across society; they pose challenges in particular to men, and these challenges are exacerbated when men occupy low socio-economic positions. The social context means that men are likely to experience multiple risk factors for suicide, interacting in devastating combination. They have seen their jobs, relationships and identity blown apart. There is a large gap between the reality of life for men and the masculine ideal. The Men and Boys Workgroup calls on the national government, statutory services (such as health, welfare, employment and social services), OHA and local authorities and the third sector to take action to reduce suicide in disadvantaged men. Our recommendations are: 1 Ensure that suicide prevention strategies include explicit aims to reduce socio-economic inequalities and gender inequalities in suicide. 2 Inform suicide prevention measures with an understanding of men’s beliefs, concerns and contexts – in particular their views of what it is to ‘be a man’. 3 Enable inter-agency working to address the multiple difficulties experienced by men through clear allocation of responsibility and accountability for suicide prevention at local level. 4 Support GPs to identify and respond to distress in men, recognizing that GPs are the most likely formal source of help to be consulted by this age-group. 5 Provide therapies which address the specific psychological factors associated with suicide – particularly, for men, social and emotional skills, managing stress and the expectations of others. 6 Develop innovative approaches to working with men that build on the ways men do ‘get through’ in everyday life. 7 Join up alcohol and drugs strategies and services with suicide prevention, recognizing the links between substance misuse, masculinity, deprivation and suicide. 8 Recognize the profound role of social disconnection in the suicide risk of men, and support men to build social relationships. 9 Assist men excluded from the labor
market to (re)enter employment. Preventing
suicide in men How to talk to someone you’re worried about 1. Pay attention Any noticeable change in his behavior is a warning sign your friend might not be doing well. These changes include:
2. Start a conversation Choose a comfortable setting.
Mention what you’ve noticed.
3. Keep it going Ask questions and listen to what he’s saying.
4. Stick to your role You’re a friend, not a counselor.
To learn more about how to help someone who is thinking about suicide, consider taking a workshop: QPR Question,
Persuade. Refer 1 1/2 hour on-line training
Why are men at risk
of suicide? Men are often socialized not to talk
about their emotions, and therefore, men as a group may mask
their stress and deal with emotional pain through harmful
behaviors and actions, and sometimes suicide, instead of
seeking help (Ogrodnickzuk & Oliffe, 2011). What to expect
Warning Signs
(American Association of
Suicidology, 2018) Risk and
protective factors “Risk factors,” those factors that contribute to suicide risk, are always balanced by factors that build and maintain resilience, “protective factors.” Risk factor – Reluctant to seek help: Men who are reluctant to seek help tend to bear the burden all alone. Everyone needs support from others at certain times in their lives. Protective factor – Tendency to look for support when it is needed: On the flip side, men who are more likely to reach out to someone when they’re struggling can find support more easily and can better cope with negative circumstances than those who do not. Risk factor – Hyper-masculine: Men who were raised with the idea that showing any sign of emotion is a “weakness” are more likely to hide their emotions, which can become overwhelming and may lead them to a point of crisis. Protective factor – Comfortable showing and expressing emotion: Men who have embraced their emotions and the importance of sharing them with others are better able to cope, as they are more likely to deal with their emotions before they become overwhelming. Risk factor – Socially isolated: Men who are socially isolated may feel less comfortable reaching out for help, because they don’t have loved ones close by. They may also have less people to ask for help and fewer people to notice that they are struggling and reach out to offer help to them. Men as a group are more likely than women to lose relationships over time, often because they prioritize career and financial success over relationships. Protective factor – Positive, supportive, and close relationships with family, friends, coworkers, etc: Relationships provide a safety net when men are thinking about suicide, because those people are there to offer help and to be asked for help. (Houle, Mishara & Chagnon, 2008; Ogrodniczuk & Oliffe, 2011; American Psychological Association, 2008) Risk Factors There are certain factors that can place men at a higher risk of suicide than others. Men as a group are at a higher risk for suicide because they tend to choose more lethal means of suicide. They’re also often socialized not to show or express emotion, leaving them with the idea that any show of weakness will diminish their “manhood.” Men who have the following characteristics, behaviors, or circumstances may be at a higher risk of suicide:
(Houle, Mishara & Chagnon, 2008; Ogrodniczuk & Oliffe, 2011; American Psychological Association, 2008) Protective Factors Certain factors or circumstances can guard a person against thinking about suicide and increase their resiliency. These are some protective factors that can build resiliency in men:
(Houle, Mishara &
Chagnon, 2008; American Psychological Association, 2005) The Gender
Paradox
A man who is already feeling
inadequate or “less than” (a man) because of
suicidal thoughts is not only “not” going to seek
help but also make sure he gets this (suicide) done right
(Canetto & Sakinofsky, 1998). Masculinity
and suicide Masculine qualities, like feminine qualities, are neither positive nor negative in and of themselves, but the expectations they attract and the way they shape a person’s behavior can affect the person’s well-being. From an early age, for example, boys are often told to hold back their tears and men are told to “suck it up” when dealing with life’s pressures: “take it like a man.” Toughness and stoicism are expected; emotional vulnerability is seen as a blemish on their manhood. These societal expectations may
discourage men from seeking help when they encounter mental
health adversities and instead can drive them to destructive
coping strategies. This can put men at greater risk for
increased substance use, risk-taking behaviors, anger and
frustration, and, too often, suicide (Seager et al., 2014;
Ogrodniczuk & Oliffe, 2011). How can
suicide in men be prevented? Partners and coworkers can be alert to the warning signs of suicide in the men in their lives. If a man is becoming more irritable, for example, this is a sign to his partner and coworkers that he’s struggling. Individually, we can create a safe space, through open, nonjudgmental conversation and gentle questioning for men to share and express emotions. If you’re worried about someone, reach out. See “How to talk to someone you’re worried about.” We can model to everyone, children and adults, that emotions are not gendered, and that it is okay, and even necessary, to show and express emotion and ask for help when it’s needed. One way we can do this is by showing and expressing our own emotions and being honest when people ask us how we’re doing. We can also have more meaningful conversations with people by asking, “How are you really doing?” if we think they may be struggling. Men need to know where they can find help – we as individuals can provide information to people we think may be struggling. Workplaces can make the resources available to their employees easily accessible by communicating their existence and ensuring access is confidential. Find out more about what workplaces can do with our toolkit on workplace swuicide prevention. Doctors and others in the healthcare
system can play a role in identifying men who may be
thinking about suicide. As men may be less likely to
directly discuss any issues they may be having, clinicians
need to become adept at reading body language, tone of
voice, and other physical cues to indicate that the man
they’re speaking with may be struggling. Health
professionals need to be better trained in detecting
depression among men, which can often result in emotions
such as anger or actions like excessive drinking
(Ogrodnickzuk & Oliffe, 2011; Paraschakis, Michopoulos,
Christoduolou, Koutsaftis & Douzenis, 2016). What can men do? Men who are struggling with thoughts of suicide may find that asking for and receiving help is not easy. Finding ways to lessen the intensity of these thoughts may take time. Be courageous. Be persistent – help is available. Source: www.suicideinfo.ca/resource/men-and-suicide/
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