Male Suicide: A Hidden Epidemicby Laura Beckman

BOYS DON’T CRY

The biggest risk factor for suicide?

Men are

more likely to commit suicide than women.

PROBLEM

PROBLEM

AMERICAN

Suicide was the

SEVENTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH for American males in 2007. For American females, in contrast, it ranked only the fifteenth cause of death.

YET WE NEVER TALK ABOUT MALE SUICIDE. Even the most popular teen suicide awareness campaign is called “To Write Love on Her Arms.” Notice the exclusive pronoun usage.

69 OUT OF 74 COUNTRIES studied have higher male suicide rates than female suicide rates.

Today, CHINA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY where the female suicide rate matches or exceeds that of males.

Cultural influences play a role in vulnerability to suicide, especially at a young age.

Eastern Europe and East Asia have the highest suicide rates.

MEN AIM TO

Men tend to use more LETHAL MEANS, and therefore have more fatal attempts. This is partly because they have greater access to firearms, and partly because they rarely use suicide attempts as “cries for help”. Have we created a society in which men are so ashamed of asking for help that they refuse to do so even by veiling it as a suicide attempt?

MYTH OF INVINCIBILITYYoung men are under immense pressure to appear invincible. This façade has hidden costs.

LACK OF RESILIENCEOlder men are accustomed to structures of society which allow them to maintain control. Often, they have not developed the coping mechanisms to deal with change.

YOUNGTEENAGE BOYS AGES 15-19 commit suicide 5X more often than teen girls. Men in their early twenties commit sucide 4X more often then their female counterparts. WHY?

FINANCIAL WOESWork is much less secure now and periods of unemployment are the norm. Many men only achieve financial independence in their mid to late twenties.

SUBSTANCE ABUSEYoung men turn to alcohol and drugs to cope. There is a proven correlation between youth suicide rate and rate of conviction for drug offenses.

WHITE MEN OVER THE AGE OF 85 commit suicide at a higher rate than any other demographic. The suicide rate for these men is 2.5X the rate for men of all ages. WHY?

SOCIAL ISOLATIONElderly men tend to have less community supports. Friends, family members, and acquaintances are a vital buffer against depression and suicide.

POWERLESSNESS Elderly men often attach self-worth to their careers. Once they lose this through unemployment of retirement, they have trouble replacing the void of meaning in their lives.

OLD

Be a lifeline. KNOW THE TRIGGERS.

Call your father when he gets laid off. Help him find ways to stay active during his unemployment.

Spend more time with your grandfather after Grandma dies. Transition periods are more difficult alone.

Encourage your brother to seek help. Ask your boyfriend how he’s feeling.

IS S

ILE

NC

E R

EA

LLY

80% of women who commit suicide consult their doctors and receive treatment before their ultimately taking their lives.

of men consult their doctors before ending their lives. For men under 25, the proportion is only 20%. If you’re depressed, see a doctor. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Nobody can get through this alone.

FIG

HT

TH

E

#1 FIGHT THE STIGMAFight the stigma against male emotions. Don’t tell a depressed man to “suck it up”. Don’t interpret tears as a sign of weakness. Remember that Acknowledging vulnerability Is a part of strength.

#2 DON’T RULE OUT MENTAL ILLNESSGender stereotyping causes doctors to diagnose women with depression and mental illness more frequently, whereas male suicide and sadness is more often deemed to be a “logical assessment of circumstances” or a “rational reaction to a life event”. Suicide is never rational.

#3 SHARE YOUR STORYIf you’re a man who has grappled with mental illness, depression, or suicide, be a role model. Tell others your story. Take pride in the courage you summoned to overcome.

#4 SUGGEST THERAPPYNobody thinks they need therapy. But sometimes, an objective, unbiased perspective is exactly what you need. Talk helps.

#5 OFFER SUPPORTMake yourself a resource. Tell him that you are available to talk to whenever he’s in a dark place.

Research

Image Credits

This article was written, designed, and photographed by Laura Beckman and printed at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis.

‘Blank World Map” from Wikimedia, public domain image.

“Low-Key Eye” from iStockPhoto, user knape.

All other photographs © Laura Beckman, 2012. Model: Jiles Coleman

Alzona, Elizabeth. “Older Adults: Depression and Suicide Fact Sheet” National Institute of Mental Health. Mar. 2011. Digital.

Brody, Jane E. “Preventing Suicide Among The Elderly” New York Times. Nov. 2007. Digital.

Mullholland, Claran. “Depression and Suicide in Men” NetDoctor. Sep. 2010. Digital.

Philips, Julia A. “ Baby Boomers Raise Midlife Suicide Rate, Study Suggests” Science Daily. Sep. 2010. Digital.

Thompson, Mark. “Grim Record: Soldier Suicides Reach New High” Time Magazine. Aug. 2012. Print.