"Having mental health issues is a major predictor for suicide–almost everyone who dies from suicide has an underlying mental health problem. Ninety percent of people who die by suicide are experiencing some sort of mental health issue, most often depression. So what distinguishes those who do from those who don’t?"
“I had lost all sight of ever getting better, and of anything enjoyable I’d ever done.”
“I basically never talked about my emotions with anybody; I felt like I wanted to figure things out on my own,”
“It was only when I was obviously really sick and ill that I reached out because I couldn’t pretend anymore.”
“Before, I never even thought of mental health in terms of what it means to be a man. I probably never asked for help because of those male stereotypes.”
These are statements made by men who either attempted suicide or thought of committing suicide.
Suicide is often thought of as a gender-neutral issue, but in reality, it’s a problem that affects men far more than women.
That’s why many argue that suicide prevention programs should recognise that men are a high-risk group and tailor messaging and programming to them.
Women are actually more likely to try to kill themselves–three to four times more likely. But men are more likely to die from it. That’s a pattern that holds true. That’s mainly due to two things: 1) Men use more lethal means [to attempt suicide] and 2) Men don’t seek care as much.
Is masculinity getting in the way of getting help?
Having mental health issues is a major predictor for suicide–almost everyone who dies from suicide has an underlying mental health problem. Ninety percent of people who die by suicide are experiencing some sort of mental health issue, most often depression. So what distinguishes those who do from those who don’t?
One thing is a strong support system. There’s evidence that men who adhere more strongly to masculine ideals view getting psychological help more negatively. That can result in their feelings building up without an escape valve–either a personal one, through talking with friends and family, or a professional one, through therapy or other mental health services–and can escalate to a crisis point.
If a guy says, well my sense of being a man means that I can’t disclose any vulnerabilities because that will make me look weak then if depression comes up, what do I do with that? I have to keep it to myself. There is also a belief that women are more likely to suffer from mental health than men are. Women have twice the rate of depression, but men have higher rates of suicide. But when you look more into contemporary research, the numbers start to look a little different.
That’s especially true when you consider that men’s symptoms of depression may be different than women’s. Instead of crying more, for example, a study has shown that increased anger, risk-taking, irritability, and substance abuse might be more common signs of depression in men. Men will talk about not being able to sleep, about back pain, but they won’t say they’re feeling sad and incompetent.
“Quite often we hear from doctors that they’re reluctant to even ask questions about mental health. Because they don’t want anyone to think ‘they mad’!” If your doctor doesn’t ask the question, it’s unlikely that most men would volunteer that information.
Some sub-groups of men are also more vulnerable to suicide: gay men and those vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as first military or police officers. Men who are in a lower socioeconomic class are also more likely to try to kill themselves.
Early life experiences also play a role; having parents who separated early in their lives and a family history of suicide are much more predictive of men dying from suicide than they are for women.
It’s a bit of a myth that the most prevalent group is young people. If you zero in on why it’s so high in the 40 to 60 age group, one of the key theories is that that’s an age where many men become unemployed or divorced.
Job losses increase the risk of suicide two- or three-fold, and men who are single, widowed or divorced are more likely to kill themselves. Relationship breakdowns like divorce, are more likely to lead men to suicide than women, possibly because women tend to have close same-sex friendships throughout their lives, while men’s same-sex friendships fade after 30.
What’s common is that many men felt they had a sense of predictability, meaning, and purpose in their jobs, marriages or role as fathers. There’s a sense that the carpet is being pulled out from under their feet, and a sense of alienation. Suddenly, they feel completely rejected and misunderstood.
Mental health is real in T&T, and we must do want ever we can to take care of those who need it most.
Here are some warning signs that you can look out for, everyone can play a role in preventing suicide by being aware of the warning signs of suicidal behaviours:
• Talking about wanting to die, being a burden to others or feeling hopeless, trapped, or in unbearable pain
• Looking for a way to kill oneself
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious, agitated, or reckless
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Displaying extreme mood swings
DISCLAIMER, The information provided in this article, is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. Please call lifeline 24 hours a day. Toll-free lines from TSTT (800 5588) and Digicel (231 2824). Flow to flow is free: 220 3636