Suicide and Men
Good Morning!
Suicide is not a topic most us want to talk about. As a matter of fact, we ususally try to avoid the
conversation. Sunday is often a day we think about church and family. But what about
those that do not have a chance to go to church? Maybe it is a matter of a person's beliefs. What
about spending time with family? Everyone has family they can be with or visit, right? Many
people do not have the opportunity to be with family due to work, location, school or other endless
reasons. Isolation and loneliness sometimes set in and we begin to think, reflecting on our
relevance to others or even why we exist. Who would miss us? Maybe we feel used, supporting
others but never receiving the support in return. Did someone take away a persons self worth by
going out of the way to show that person how worthless he is to the world?
The path can become very dark making him feel he is out of options, that suicide must be the answer.
Today I would like to share some sources that touch on these issues.
The first is a short video that I found on Facebook this morning by Graham Allen, "The Daily Rants Guy". His topic was about suicide.
Understanding Suicide Among Men: Why More Men Take Their Own Lives
By Jerry Kennard
Updated February 21, 2017
https://www.verywell.com/men-and-suicide-2328492
In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the numbers of men who elect to end their own lives prematurely through suicide. Over 41,000 people die by suicide each year in the U.S. and suicide is the seventh leading cause of death for all U.S. men, according to National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. But there is hope. Here are some important things to understand about suicide among men, and what you can do if you are a loved one are having hopeless feelings or having thoughts about suicide.
Men and Suicide Statistics
Young men and older men are particularly vulnerable groups. The suicide rate peaks in men between the ages of 20 to 24, which, if isolated from the general statistics on suicide, places suicide as the third-ranking cause of death. Older people suffer from the loss of loved one's and friends and can feel isolated, ignored, valueless, or overly dependent on others.
Risk Factors for Suicide
Not every attempt at suicide results in completion, although unsuccessful first attempts are often followed by successful second attempts. The most common risk factors are:
Using drugs and/or alcohol to help cope with emotions, relationships, the pressure of work or other issues
Social isolation or living alone
Not being able to form or sustain meaningful relationships
Divorce or relationship breakdowns
A history of physical and sexual abuse
Imprisonment
Being bullied at school, college or work
Unemployment
Loss of a loved one through trauma or disease
Mental illness, particularly where this is related to depression and painful or debilitating illnesses or conditions
In older men, suicide is most strongly associated with depression, physical pain and illness, living alone and feelings of hopelessness and guilt.
Preventing Suicide
Not all suicide attempts succeed and many people who set out with the clear intention of ending their own lives find that with good emotional and practical support they are able to adjust their circumstances to live a complete and fruitful life. The warning signs listed above do not inevitably lead to suicide attempts. However, people who feel suicidal often report a certain kind of tunnel vision, of being unable to see the broader picture and thinking only in terms of black and white. In such circumstances, that individual may not be motivated to seek out help for themselves, and it often falls on others to offer support by listening, offering encouragement and sometimes even challenging the preconceptions that people hold about themselves such as their abilities and their worth to society.
Getting Help
Getting help for people expressing suicidal intent or showing the warning signs is incredibly important. Help is available from a number of different sources, including family doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, voluntary organizations, community mental health centers, local hospitals or social agencies.
If you believe someone is in imminent danger, call 911 and do not leave them alone.
And if you are struggling personally, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a free and confidential service available to all people 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-273-TALK.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015, July 13). Leading Causes of Death in Males United States, 2013 (current listing). Retrieved February 21, 2016.
DoSomething.org. (n.d.). 11 Facts About Suicide. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2015, April). Suicide Prevention. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
Differences in Suicide Among Men and Women: Differences Between Men and Women in Suicide and Suicidal Behaviors
By Nancy Schimelpfening
Updated May 28, 2017
https://www.verywell.com/gender-differences-in-suicide-methods-1067508
There are several gender differences with regard to suicide, involving differences in both successful suicides and suicidal behaviors for men and women.
While it is difficult to discuss this topic, it has to be stressed that this knowledge is important if we are to reduce the number of successful suicides occurring in the United States and around the world each year.
Gender Differences Suicide Attempt and the Risk of Death from Suicide
In reviewing suicide statistics it's been found that women are roughly three times more likely to attempt suicide, though men are around three times more likely to die from suicide.
From this information it is clear that there are other important differences between the sexes with regard to suicide that we will address.
There are also differences in the risk of suicide between men and women based on previous attempt. Around 62 percent of women who are successful in suicide have made a previous attempt, but when it comes to men, 62 percent of those who die from suicide have not had a previous attempt.
It's important to discuss one fallacy when it comes it suicide in men and women up front. The differences in attempts and successful suicides in women has erroneously led many people to believe that suicide attempts in women are often a method of getting attention. This is far from true. It is important to note that among women an attempted (but failed) suicide attempt is the greatest risk factor for suicide in the future, and all suicide attempts, whether in men or in women, need to be taken very seriously.
Differences in Suicide Methods Between Men and Women
One of the most important reasons for the difference between suicide attempts and successful suicides between men and women is the method of suicide used. Men tend to choose violent (more lethal) suicide methods, such as firearms, hanging, and asphyxiation, whereas women are more likely to overdose on medications or drugs.
Common suicide methods in men include:
Firearms
Hanging
Asphyxiation, or suffocation
Jumping
Moving objects
Sharp objects
Vehicle Exhaust Gas
In general, women tend to use a greater variety of suicide methods than men. Common suicide methods in women include:
Self-poisoning (women four times as likely as men to die from drug poisoning)
Exsanguination (bleeding out from a cut such as a "slit" wrist)
Drowning
Hanging (one study found that men and women are both just as likely to die by hanging)
Firearms (women were 73 percent less likely to use firearms as men)
Other Differences in Suicide Methods
There are differences in suicide methods beyond those between the sexes. Men who were married were more likely to use firearms, whereas men who were unmarried were more likely to die by hanging. There are differences which depend on whether a suicide is conducted at home or away from home as well. Youth, likely due to access of methods, have a high proportion of dying by hanging. In addition, methods can vary depending on situations. Methods such as an overdose are more common in those who have been depressed for some time. Firearms, in contrast, appear to be more common when people are reacting to acute situations.
This would support current recommendations to remove guns from a home in the setting of an acute mental health crisis.
Differences in Severity of Suicide Attempts in Men and Women
Even when the same method of suicide is used by men and women, attempts by men tend to be more serious and severe (60 percent more severe, at least statistically speaking). Men who attempt suicide and survive are more likely than women who attempt and survive suicide to require intensive care hospitalization. With regard to suicide by firearms, men are more likely to shoot themselves in the head (which is more likely to be fatal) than women.
The reason for this has been debated, but could be related to less intent to die in women. It could be, however, that cosmetic fears in women, should the attempt fail, play a role in the location of a gunshot.
Prior Suicide Attempts Before Suicide in Men and Women
As noted above, both men and women who have a history of a prior suicide attempt are at risk for suicide. Over half of women who are successful in suicide have a previous attempt, whereas less than half of men who commit suicide have a prior attempt.
Differences in Self-Harming Behavior Between Men and Women
While men are more likely to die as a result of a suicide attempt, women are more likely to engage in what is known as deliberate self-harm (DSH) or self-mutilation. DSH involves any sort of self-harming behavior, whether or not the intent is to commit suicide.
Research suggests that people who use self mutilation are not usually trying to kill themselves, though sometimes they do. While many people associate self harm with a desire for attention, it is not, and is often done in private. Examples of DSH include non-lethal drug overdoses and self-injury such as cutting. While suicide may not be the motivation, many people who engage in self-harm may be having suicidal thoughts, and may also go too far in their self-harming behavior resulting in unintentional suicide.
Risk factors for suicide in those who engage in self-harming behavior include:
Previous episodes of self harm
Suicidal intent
Physical health problems
Male gender
Gender Differences in Depression and Suicide
It's thought that major depression occurs in roughly half of people who commit suicide, both male and female, and there are differences in this regard as well. Women are twice as likely as men to carry a diagnosis of major depression, though, as noted, successful suicide occurs much more often in men than women. It's also known that women are more likely to seek treatment for depression than men.
Why Are There Gender Differences With Suicide?
Differences in gender roles and expectations may account for some of the differences in suicide behavior. The gender stereotype of men being "tough" and "strong" does not allow for failure, perhaps causing men to select a more violent and lethal method of suicide; while women, who are allowed (in social acceptance terms) the option to express weakness and ask for help, may use suicide attempts as a means of expressing their desire for assistance.
Some researchers have postulated that women are more likely to take others into consideration, and looking at suicide in the context of a relationships may give women less incentive to want to die. Others have wondered if perhaps women feel freer to change their minds following a decision to attempt suicide.
Experts suggest that gender might also influence what methods a person is familiar with or has ready access to use. For example, men are generally more likely than women to be familiar with firearms and use them in their daily lives, and thus they might choose this method more often.
While certain generalizations can be made about male and female suicide behavior, it should be noted that general tendencies cannot be taken as absolute guidelines for suicide prevention efforts. Suicide attempts should always be taken seriously and not dismissed as attention seeking behavior, nor should it be assumed that only persons of a particular gender will use any given method.
Suicide Warning Signs
Regardless of gender differences in suicide, everyone should be aware of the risk factors and warning signs for suicide. If you or a loved one have a history of depression, you may wish to create a suicide safety plan as well.
If You are a Parent
If you are a parent, you may have lost sleep hearing about the risk of suicide in our young people. Thankfully this is being addressed, complete with posters telling adolescents to break the silence if they learn another student may be suicidal. Articles now abound which speak of teen cutting and self harm behaviors. Yet determining if a teenage child is suicidal may be very difficult among the normal angst of adolescence. In addition to learning about the warning signs of suicide in adults, take a moment to learn about the common warning signs for suicide in teenagers, and become familiar with these myths about teen suicide.
Sources:
Callanan, V., and M. Davis. Gender Differences in Suicide Methods. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2012. 47(6):857-69.
Chan, M., Bhatti, H., Meader, N. et al. Predicting Suicide Following Self-Harm: Systematic Review of Risk Factors and Risk Scales. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2016. 209(4):277-283.
Hamilton, E., and B. Klimes-Dougan. Gender Differences in Suicide Prevention Responses: Implications for Adolescents Based on an Illustrative Review of the Literature. International Journal of Research and Public Health. 2015. 12(3):2359-72.
Maddock, G., Carter, G., Murrell, E., Lewin, T., and A. Conrad. Distinguishing Suicidal from Non-Suicidal Deliberate Self-Harm Events in Women with Borderline Personality Disorder. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2010. 44(6):574-82.
Mergi, R., Koburger, N., Heinrichs, K. et al. What Are Reasons for the Large Gender Differences in the Lethality of Suicidal Acts? An Epidemiological Analysis in Four European Countries. PLoS One. 2015. 10(7):e0129062.
Tsirigotis, K., Guszczynski, W., and M. Tsirigotis. Gender Differentiation in Methods of Suicide Attempts. Medical Science Monitor. 2011. 17(8):PH65-PH70.
Have a Great Day and Take Care of Yourselves!
As Always,
Ali
Suicide is not a topic most us want to talk about. As a matter of fact, we ususally try to avoid the
conversation. Sunday is often a day we think about church and family. But what about
those that do not have a chance to go to church? Maybe it is a matter of a person's beliefs. What
about spending time with family? Everyone has family they can be with or visit, right? Many
people do not have the opportunity to be with family due to work, location, school or other endless
reasons. Isolation and loneliness sometimes set in and we begin to think, reflecting on our
relevance to others or even why we exist. Who would miss us? Maybe we feel used, supporting
others but never receiving the support in return. Did someone take away a persons self worth by
going out of the way to show that person how worthless he is to the world?
The path can become very dark making him feel he is out of options, that suicide must be the answer.
Today I would like to share some sources that touch on these issues.
The first is a short video that I found on Facebook this morning by Graham Allen, "The Daily Rants Guy". His topic was about suicide.
DAILY RANT..."What we ALL want to say about Suicide"
The next video I have shared before but the message fits with today's topic. Taking the time to look
up from the technology that can disconnect us from the world going on around us can cause an
isolation many or us do not even realize is occuring.
up from the technology that can disconnect us from the world going on around us can cause an
isolation many or us do not even realize is occuring.
Look Up by Gary Turk
The website, Verywell.com, has posted some great articles on men and suicide. Here are two articles I would like to share.
By Jerry Kennard
Updated February 21, 2017
https://www.verywell.com/men-and-suicide-2328492
In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the numbers of men who elect to end their own lives prematurely through suicide. Over 41,000 people die by suicide each year in the U.S. and suicide is the seventh leading cause of death for all U.S. men, according to National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. But there is hope. Here are some important things to understand about suicide among men, and what you can do if you are a loved one are having hopeless feelings or having thoughts about suicide.
Men and Suicide Statistics
Young men and older men are particularly vulnerable groups. The suicide rate peaks in men between the ages of 20 to 24, which, if isolated from the general statistics on suicide, places suicide as the third-ranking cause of death. Older people suffer from the loss of loved one's and friends and can feel isolated, ignored, valueless, or overly dependent on others.
Risk Factors for Suicide
Not every attempt at suicide results in completion, although unsuccessful first attempts are often followed by successful second attempts. The most common risk factors are:
Using drugs and/or alcohol to help cope with emotions, relationships, the pressure of work or other issues
Social isolation or living alone
Not being able to form or sustain meaningful relationships
Divorce or relationship breakdowns
A history of physical and sexual abuse
Imprisonment
Being bullied at school, college or work
Unemployment
Loss of a loved one through trauma or disease
Mental illness, particularly where this is related to depression and painful or debilitating illnesses or conditions
In older men, suicide is most strongly associated with depression, physical pain and illness, living alone and feelings of hopelessness and guilt.
Preventing Suicide
Not all suicide attempts succeed and many people who set out with the clear intention of ending their own lives find that with good emotional and practical support they are able to adjust their circumstances to live a complete and fruitful life. The warning signs listed above do not inevitably lead to suicide attempts. However, people who feel suicidal often report a certain kind of tunnel vision, of being unable to see the broader picture and thinking only in terms of black and white. In such circumstances, that individual may not be motivated to seek out help for themselves, and it often falls on others to offer support by listening, offering encouragement and sometimes even challenging the preconceptions that people hold about themselves such as their abilities and their worth to society.
Getting Help
Getting help for people expressing suicidal intent or showing the warning signs is incredibly important. Help is available from a number of different sources, including family doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, voluntary organizations, community mental health centers, local hospitals or social agencies.
If you believe someone is in imminent danger, call 911 and do not leave them alone.
And if you are struggling personally, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a free and confidential service available to all people 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-273-TALK.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015, July 13). Leading Causes of Death in Males United States, 2013 (current listing). Retrieved February 21, 2016.
DoSomething.org. (n.d.). 11 Facts About Suicide. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2015, April). Suicide Prevention. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
Differences in Suicide Among Men and Women: Differences Between Men and Women in Suicide and Suicidal Behaviors
By Nancy Schimelpfening
Updated May 28, 2017
https://www.verywell.com/gender-differences-in-suicide-methods-1067508
There are several gender differences with regard to suicide, involving differences in both successful suicides and suicidal behaviors for men and women.
While it is difficult to discuss this topic, it has to be stressed that this knowledge is important if we are to reduce the number of successful suicides occurring in the United States and around the world each year.
Gender Differences Suicide Attempt and the Risk of Death from Suicide
In reviewing suicide statistics it's been found that women are roughly three times more likely to attempt suicide, though men are around three times more likely to die from suicide.
From this information it is clear that there are other important differences between the sexes with regard to suicide that we will address.
There are also differences in the risk of suicide between men and women based on previous attempt. Around 62 percent of women who are successful in suicide have made a previous attempt, but when it comes to men, 62 percent of those who die from suicide have not had a previous attempt.
It's important to discuss one fallacy when it comes it suicide in men and women up front. The differences in attempts and successful suicides in women has erroneously led many people to believe that suicide attempts in women are often a method of getting attention. This is far from true. It is important to note that among women an attempted (but failed) suicide attempt is the greatest risk factor for suicide in the future, and all suicide attempts, whether in men or in women, need to be taken very seriously.
Differences in Suicide Methods Between Men and Women
One of the most important reasons for the difference between suicide attempts and successful suicides between men and women is the method of suicide used. Men tend to choose violent (more lethal) suicide methods, such as firearms, hanging, and asphyxiation, whereas women are more likely to overdose on medications or drugs.
Common suicide methods in men include:
Firearms
Hanging
Asphyxiation, or suffocation
Jumping
Moving objects
Sharp objects
Vehicle Exhaust Gas
In general, women tend to use a greater variety of suicide methods than men. Common suicide methods in women include:
Self-poisoning (women four times as likely as men to die from drug poisoning)
Exsanguination (bleeding out from a cut such as a "slit" wrist)
Drowning
Hanging (one study found that men and women are both just as likely to die by hanging)
Firearms (women were 73 percent less likely to use firearms as men)
Other Differences in Suicide Methods
There are differences in suicide methods beyond those between the sexes. Men who were married were more likely to use firearms, whereas men who were unmarried were more likely to die by hanging. There are differences which depend on whether a suicide is conducted at home or away from home as well. Youth, likely due to access of methods, have a high proportion of dying by hanging. In addition, methods can vary depending on situations. Methods such as an overdose are more common in those who have been depressed for some time. Firearms, in contrast, appear to be more common when people are reacting to acute situations.
This would support current recommendations to remove guns from a home in the setting of an acute mental health crisis.
Differences in Severity of Suicide Attempts in Men and Women
Even when the same method of suicide is used by men and women, attempts by men tend to be more serious and severe (60 percent more severe, at least statistically speaking). Men who attempt suicide and survive are more likely than women who attempt and survive suicide to require intensive care hospitalization. With regard to suicide by firearms, men are more likely to shoot themselves in the head (which is more likely to be fatal) than women.
The reason for this has been debated, but could be related to less intent to die in women. It could be, however, that cosmetic fears in women, should the attempt fail, play a role in the location of a gunshot.
Prior Suicide Attempts Before Suicide in Men and Women
As noted above, both men and women who have a history of a prior suicide attempt are at risk for suicide. Over half of women who are successful in suicide have a previous attempt, whereas less than half of men who commit suicide have a prior attempt.
Differences in Self-Harming Behavior Between Men and Women
While men are more likely to die as a result of a suicide attempt, women are more likely to engage in what is known as deliberate self-harm (DSH) or self-mutilation. DSH involves any sort of self-harming behavior, whether or not the intent is to commit suicide.
Research suggests that people who use self mutilation are not usually trying to kill themselves, though sometimes they do. While many people associate self harm with a desire for attention, it is not, and is often done in private. Examples of DSH include non-lethal drug overdoses and self-injury such as cutting. While suicide may not be the motivation, many people who engage in self-harm may be having suicidal thoughts, and may also go too far in their self-harming behavior resulting in unintentional suicide.
Risk factors for suicide in those who engage in self-harming behavior include:
Previous episodes of self harm
Suicidal intent
Physical health problems
Male gender
Gender Differences in Depression and Suicide
It's thought that major depression occurs in roughly half of people who commit suicide, both male and female, and there are differences in this regard as well. Women are twice as likely as men to carry a diagnosis of major depression, though, as noted, successful suicide occurs much more often in men than women. It's also known that women are more likely to seek treatment for depression than men.
Why Are There Gender Differences With Suicide?
Differences in gender roles and expectations may account for some of the differences in suicide behavior. The gender stereotype of men being "tough" and "strong" does not allow for failure, perhaps causing men to select a more violent and lethal method of suicide; while women, who are allowed (in social acceptance terms) the option to express weakness and ask for help, may use suicide attempts as a means of expressing their desire for assistance.
Some researchers have postulated that women are more likely to take others into consideration, and looking at suicide in the context of a relationships may give women less incentive to want to die. Others have wondered if perhaps women feel freer to change their minds following a decision to attempt suicide.
Experts suggest that gender might also influence what methods a person is familiar with or has ready access to use. For example, men are generally more likely than women to be familiar with firearms and use them in their daily lives, and thus they might choose this method more often.
While certain generalizations can be made about male and female suicide behavior, it should be noted that general tendencies cannot be taken as absolute guidelines for suicide prevention efforts. Suicide attempts should always be taken seriously and not dismissed as attention seeking behavior, nor should it be assumed that only persons of a particular gender will use any given method.
Suicide Warning Signs
Regardless of gender differences in suicide, everyone should be aware of the risk factors and warning signs for suicide. If you or a loved one have a history of depression, you may wish to create a suicide safety plan as well.
If You are a Parent
If you are a parent, you may have lost sleep hearing about the risk of suicide in our young people. Thankfully this is being addressed, complete with posters telling adolescents to break the silence if they learn another student may be suicidal. Articles now abound which speak of teen cutting and self harm behaviors. Yet determining if a teenage child is suicidal may be very difficult among the normal angst of adolescence. In addition to learning about the warning signs of suicide in adults, take a moment to learn about the common warning signs for suicide in teenagers, and become familiar with these myths about teen suicide.
Sources:
Callanan, V., and M. Davis. Gender Differences in Suicide Methods. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2012. 47(6):857-69.
Chan, M., Bhatti, H., Meader, N. et al. Predicting Suicide Following Self-Harm: Systematic Review of Risk Factors and Risk Scales. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2016. 209(4):277-283.
Hamilton, E., and B. Klimes-Dougan. Gender Differences in Suicide Prevention Responses: Implications for Adolescents Based on an Illustrative Review of the Literature. International Journal of Research and Public Health. 2015. 12(3):2359-72.
Maddock, G., Carter, G., Murrell, E., Lewin, T., and A. Conrad. Distinguishing Suicidal from Non-Suicidal Deliberate Self-Harm Events in Women with Borderline Personality Disorder. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2010. 44(6):574-82.
Mergi, R., Koburger, N., Heinrichs, K. et al. What Are Reasons for the Large Gender Differences in the Lethality of Suicidal Acts? An Epidemiological Analysis in Four European Countries. PLoS One. 2015. 10(7):e0129062.
Tsirigotis, K., Guszczynski, W., and M. Tsirigotis. Gender Differentiation in Methods of Suicide Attempts. Medical Science Monitor. 2011. 17(8):PH65-PH70.
Have a Great Day and Take Care of Yourselves!
As Always,
Ali
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