Male Suicide
Male Suicide /men-male-suicide (re-use current /male-suicide.htm )
For as long as records have existed male suicide rates have been significantly higher than they have been for women. This finding is consistent globally which points to there being something about the experiences of men that accounts for the problem.
- Suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 50.
- Suicide accounts for more deaths than are accounted for by coronary heart disease, accidental poisoning or diseases of the liver.
- Globally there are 800 000 deaths per year to suicide which places it near the top ten leading causes of death. To put this in perspective this is more than is accounted for by war and homicide combined.
- Rates of suicide increase during times of economic recession.
- 42% of UK men have considered suicide.
- Suicide is one of the least understood leading causes of deaths and it has traditionally been seen as a symptom rather than a problem in it’s own right
- Every suicide is a tragedy which has a profound impact on families and loved ones.
- 72% of suicides occur in people without a diagnosed mental illness, mental illness increases risk but it is not a cause
For as long as records have existed male suicide rates have been significantly higher than they have been for women. This finding is consistent globally which points to there being something about the experiences of men that accounts for the problem.
Why Men Commit Suicide
There are a number of factors that account for what people take their own lives. Below are some of the contributory factors:
The psychological impact of crises can lead some people into continual and unabating emotional pain. Emotional pain is exponentially more painful than physical pain (as reported by people in crisis) and people will even take their lives if they find themselves trapped and unable to find a way out.
People with mental health problems and psychological difficulties, who also experience life crises are at greater risk
At Men’s Minds Matter we’ve developed a psychological model and intervention that addresses this very problem.
Deprivation and long term insecurity financially is associated with the increased risk of suicide. People who have been long term unemployed, unable to work or who suddenly have their social welfare security taken away are at greater risk of suicide. Unemployment is also linked associated with mental ill health. We believe its that hardest job around as it allows for the mind to cause us lots of problems through overthinking, the absence of meaning and purpose, exclusion from the main tribe and poor self esteem.
People who do work and suddenly lose their employment can be thrown into financial insecurity and the potential for subsequent losses (loss of relationships, home, loss of identity, loss of esteem, loss of connection with others, loss of routine and structure).
People who are overstretched and experience sudden additional costs also face risks and dangers if they are unable to meet the demands. Living under these conditions can take its toll and lead to breakdowns, which has greater implications for those who are self-employed.
For men this has been a central issue as they still remains the main earner. Whilst this is changing, the pressures experienced by men (and increasingly women) by taking on this role can be considerable and place psychological strain on the individual and family system. Also, there may have been long term neglect of the self leading to a lack of identity outside of the workplace. This may lead many men to not have hobbies or interests to help buffer the impact of unemployment and financial insecurity .
Relationships are central to our survival. We didn’t develop the tough skins of crocodiles to protect us from harm. In fact, our soft skins were possible because we developed a more effective way of protecting ourselves…...The Tribe. This is why relationships are so important to us and why we feel so much emotional pain when we lose them or find ourselves outside of the group.
People who have difficulties within the relational world are at greater risk of suicide and other major health conditions, including physical ones.
Being bullied at a young age has major implications for the development of a secure self of self, childhood trauma or harm compromises the development of personality. In fact the early and more traumatic the relational problems or trauma the greater damage it does to our development. Which makes perfect sense!
The breakdown of relationships is a major risk factor for suicide, particularly in young men and first loves. Divorce in later life leads to losses in many areas with men usually being left to fend for themselves. Whilst this may be honourable it still presents a major psychological challenge which needs considerable.
To be outside of the tribe or to feel socially or emotionally isolated in incredibly painful. Throughout history and currently our most severe forms of punishment have included, banishment, exclusion, inequality and removal from the mainstream. We can see this within our prison systems where people are taken out and locked away. In fact the severest forms of punishment in prison is isolation.
The tendency to self-isolate when depressed is the reason why it is associated with an increased risk of suicide.
A previous history of suicide in the family increase the risk of suicide in other family members.
Men are also less skilled in the world of relationships, which we believe increase their risk of suicide. This is why we’ve been piloting a Men’s Institute.
We believe emotional pain is a direct causal factor in why people end their lives. Emotional pain is consistently reported to be more painful than physical pain. Experiencing emotional pain which is unabating and constant without any way of relieving this will lead people to consider any option that removes the pain, including self harm and suicide. Drugs and alcohol is a common unhelpful strategy people turn to as a way of managing emotional distress and pain. It’s a form of numbing which leads to further problems developing and the underlying causes left unaddressed.
Common emotions that we find painful, distressing and uncomfortable include: sadness, loss, fear, anxiety, stress, shame, guilt, anger, hopelessness, helplessness, entrapment and defeat.
Understanding and connecting with emotions and their utility is crucial in reducing suicide. You can find our more about emotions here.
Turns out that men are less likely to be able to connect with emotions of understand their purpose. This means they’re less likely to recognise a problem or do anything with it, until it's at its worst.
Emotional difficulties underlie all mental health problems. We do not believe in an illness model of mental health but instead consider all mental health problems to be:
“an understandable human response to circumstances which leads to a set of predictable psychological responses that cause, create and maintain emotional discomfort, distress or pain” Sullivan (2019)
We believe that it’s crucial to help people to become more effective in addressing and adapting these psychological responses so that mental health difficulties become more manageable or no longer a problem. By doing so emotional discomfort, distress or pain is no longer a problem.
- Life crises.
- Economic / financial problems
- Work place stress
- Relationship problems
- Bullying
- Major life loss
- Changes in life circumstances
- Bereavement
- Trauma
- Abuse
- Threat to self / others
- Isolation
- Self neglect
- Vulnerability
- Sleep problems
- Poverty
- Loss of secure environment
- Drug and alcohol use
- Physical and mental health problems
The psychological impact of crises can lead some people into continual and unabating emotional pain. Emotional pain is exponentially more painful than physical pain (as reported by people in crisis) and people will even take their lives if they find themselves trapped and unable to find a way out.
People with mental health problems and psychological difficulties, who also experience life crises are at greater risk
At Men’s Minds Matter we’ve developed a psychological model and intervention that addresses this very problem.
- Unemployment, financial insecurity and associated factors
Deprivation and long term insecurity financially is associated with the increased risk of suicide. People who have been long term unemployed, unable to work or who suddenly have their social welfare security taken away are at greater risk of suicide. Unemployment is also linked associated with mental ill health. We believe its that hardest job around as it allows for the mind to cause us lots of problems through overthinking, the absence of meaning and purpose, exclusion from the main tribe and poor self esteem.
People who do work and suddenly lose their employment can be thrown into financial insecurity and the potential for subsequent losses (loss of relationships, home, loss of identity, loss of esteem, loss of connection with others, loss of routine and structure).
People who are overstretched and experience sudden additional costs also face risks and dangers if they are unable to meet the demands. Living under these conditions can take its toll and lead to breakdowns, which has greater implications for those who are self-employed.
For men this has been a central issue as they still remains the main earner. Whilst this is changing, the pressures experienced by men (and increasingly women) by taking on this role can be considerable and place psychological strain on the individual and family system. Also, there may have been long term neglect of the self leading to a lack of identity outside of the workplace. This may lead many men to not have hobbies or interests to help buffer the impact of unemployment and financial insecurity .
- Relationships
Relationships are central to our survival. We didn’t develop the tough skins of crocodiles to protect us from harm. In fact, our soft skins were possible because we developed a more effective way of protecting ourselves…...The Tribe. This is why relationships are so important to us and why we feel so much emotional pain when we lose them or find ourselves outside of the group.
People who have difficulties within the relational world are at greater risk of suicide and other major health conditions, including physical ones.
Being bullied at a young age has major implications for the development of a secure self of self, childhood trauma or harm compromises the development of personality. In fact the early and more traumatic the relational problems or trauma the greater damage it does to our development. Which makes perfect sense!
The breakdown of relationships is a major risk factor for suicide, particularly in young men and first loves. Divorce in later life leads to losses in many areas with men usually being left to fend for themselves. Whilst this may be honourable it still presents a major psychological challenge which needs considerable.
To be outside of the tribe or to feel socially or emotionally isolated in incredibly painful. Throughout history and currently our most severe forms of punishment have included, banishment, exclusion, inequality and removal from the mainstream. We can see this within our prison systems where people are taken out and locked away. In fact the severest forms of punishment in prison is isolation.
The tendency to self-isolate when depressed is the reason why it is associated with an increased risk of suicide.
A previous history of suicide in the family increase the risk of suicide in other family members.
Men are also less skilled in the world of relationships, which we believe increase their risk of suicide. This is why we’ve been piloting a Men’s Institute.
- Emotional pain
We believe emotional pain is a direct causal factor in why people end their lives. Emotional pain is consistently reported to be more painful than physical pain. Experiencing emotional pain which is unabating and constant without any way of relieving this will lead people to consider any option that removes the pain, including self harm and suicide. Drugs and alcohol is a common unhelpful strategy people turn to as a way of managing emotional distress and pain. It’s a form of numbing which leads to further problems developing and the underlying causes left unaddressed.
Common emotions that we find painful, distressing and uncomfortable include: sadness, loss, fear, anxiety, stress, shame, guilt, anger, hopelessness, helplessness, entrapment and defeat.
Understanding and connecting with emotions and their utility is crucial in reducing suicide. You can find our more about emotions here.
Turns out that men are less likely to be able to connect with emotions of understand their purpose. This means they’re less likely to recognise a problem or do anything with it, until it's at its worst.
Emotional difficulties underlie all mental health problems. We do not believe in an illness model of mental health but instead consider all mental health problems to be:
“an understandable human response to circumstances which leads to a set of predictable psychological responses that cause, create and maintain emotional discomfort, distress or pain” Sullivan (2019)
We believe that it’s crucial to help people to become more effective in addressing and adapting these psychological responses so that mental health difficulties become more manageable or no longer a problem. By doing so emotional discomfort, distress or pain is no longer a problem.
Male Suicide Rates
{Insert Nigel’s graphs}
This graph is from the Samaritans’ Suicide Statistic Report [https://www.samaritans.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/Suicide_statistics_report_2017_Final.pdf] and shows the suicide rate per 100,000 in the UK, between 1985 and 2015. It shows that there has been a decrease in the UK suicide rate until around 2007. After that there's been a general increase in suicide rates.
https://www.samaritans.org/about-us/our-research/facts-and-figures-about-suicide
Read more about male suicide rates in English speaking countries [/male-suicide-rates-statistics-uk].
This graph is from the Samaritans’ Suicide Statistic Report [https://www.samaritans.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/Suicide_statistics_report_2017_Final.pdf] and shows the suicide rate per 100,000 in the UK, between 1985 and 2015. It shows that there has been a decrease in the UK suicide rate until around 2007. After that there's been a general increase in suicide rates.
https://www.samaritans.org/about-us/our-research/facts-and-figures-about-suicide
Read more about male suicide rates in English speaking countries [/male-suicide-rates-statistics-uk].
