[TW: Suicide]
10 September marked World Suicide Prevention Day – a global day raising awareness, changing the narrative and showing us that we all have a role to play in preventing suicide.
It’s heartbreaking to think suicide affects young people, but it does. It’s the leading cause of death among Australians aged 15-24 and the biggest killer of men aged 15-44.
Each suicide death impacts up to 135 people—family, friends, colleagues, first responders, and YES, young people too. They hear the quiet conversations and witness the pain of their loved ones. And they experience all the grief, confusion, and fear.
Suicide. It’s not an easy thing to talk about. But at Top Blokes, we make it a priority. We dedicate time to role model vulnerability, break down the stigma, and create supportive spaces for open, honest conversations about suicide and mental health. Boys walk away recognising the signs that a mate might be struggling, they know how to seek help, and they know to open up about their own feelings. They build a strong network of support—a community where they lift each other up.
Sadly 3,000 people die each year by suicide. That’s nine people every day who take their own life. And males are three times more likely to take their own life than females.
Top Blokes ambassador and parenting expert, Dr. Justin Coulson shares some of the reasons why men are more likely to die by suicide.
Justin highlights five key points:
- Traditional masculinity norms: Men are often expected to be stoic, strong, and invulnerable, which leads them to internalise emotions. Suppressing emotions over time can lead to maladaptive behaviours that may hurt themselves or others.
- Higher rates of substance use: Men tend to use substances at higher rates, which increases their risk for depression, anxiety, impulsive behaviour, and poor decision-making, ultimately contributing to suicidal tendencies.
- Underdiagnosis of mental illness: Due to hyper-masculine norms, men are less likely to seek help or disclose their mental health challenges, leading to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of mental illness.
- Social isolation and poor quality of connections: Men often struggle with forming deep, supportive friendships. This lack of connection can lead to feelings of isolation and the belief that no one is there to help during tough times.
- More lethal suicide methods: While women tend to attempt suicide more often, men typically use more lethal methods, which results in higher rates of suicide completion.
If this story raises concerns for you help is always available. Here are some numbers you can call if you need some additional guidance or support:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800
- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- Or head to our Support Services page.
This October you can carry the weight of poor mental health for those who can’t by joining the Lift the Load challenge.
References: https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/data/suicide-self-harm-monitoring-data
