Why suicide is a silent crisis for men – and it’s time to talk about it

Men are at greater risk of suicide because they struggle to address their mental health problems, and don’t talk to others about them

Experts outline ways to help them lead a healthier and happier life

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Experts say men are at greater risk of suicide today because they still struggle to talk about their mental health issues. Photo: Alamy

Published: 6:00pm, 9 Oct 2019Updated: 4:15pm, 10 Oct 2019

In Canada, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under the age of 44. In the UK, men account for three-quarters of suicides. When Hong Kong experienced economic turmoil in the 1990s, the suicide rate of men aged 30 to 59 almost doubled. After 2007, as recessions took over Europe, male suicide rates also spiked.

Men, according to doctors, are probably at greater risk of suicide because they still struggle to talk about their mental health. Keeping silent often means men are unable to deal with their issues and are much more likely to commit suicide because their worries overwhelm them.

In the UK, one in three men feel they cannot talk to their friends about their mental health, according to Gerard Barnes, CEO of Smart TMS. (TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation, a new treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain and relieve symptoms of mental health conditions.)

A Smart TMS survey in 2017 found that 39 per cent of UK men feel less confident than they once did, one in three men feel more social anxiety than they used to feel, and 27 per cent of men regularly cancel plans to avoid interaction with others.

In Canada, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under the age of 44. Photo: Alamy

The UK’s mental health epidemic, Barnes says, has been widely publicised, with many prominent figures speaking out about their experiences with mental health issues. “However, while many of the same difficulties are experienced by both men and women, some difficulties and influences on mental health born of societal expectations may be especially detrimental to men,” he says.