24/10/2024
Below is a post by David Frostleiner in Linkedin and my reply to it.
Last year, around 10,000 people died by su***de in Germany.
Approximately 75% of them were men.
Research shows that 90% of people who die by su***de suffer from at least one mental disorder, with depression being the most common (over 50%).
However, here's an interesting paradox: While men die by su***de more frequently, women are diagnosed with depression and other mental health disorders at twice the rate of men.
So, why are men more likely to die by su***de?
You can approach this question from different angles. For example, men tend to use more violent and lethal methods, which leads to a higher su***de completion rate. They also have higher rates of alcohol and substance use disorders, which are significant risk factors for su***de.
However, to me, the most important factor is help-seeking behavior.
In many cultures, men are taught from an early age to suppress their emotions, "tough it out," and avoid showing vulnerability. Asking for help is often seen as a weakness, especially when it comes to mental health.
As a result, men are less likely to talk about their struggles with friends or family, and even less likely to seek professional support. They try to cope on their own, often turning to maladaptive strategies like substance abuse, which only increase the risk of su***de.
In contrast, women are more likely to express their feelings and seek help when they're struggling, which may explain why, despite higher rates of mental health disorders, fewer women die by su***de.
Parts of our society still believe it’s weak to seek help.
It’s not.
Asking for help is an act of courage. It shows strength, resilience, and the willingness to fight for yourself.
If you’re going through a tough time or having thoughts of self-harm, remember: you don’t have to face it alone.
Being strong and asking for help are not contradictions—they complement each other.
My comment:
Sad news. I have been a firm believer that in our society there is a lack of attention to the issues that affect boys and men. Inequality, fairness, discrimination, sensitivities and so many other issues have been look at from a ideological perspective of power, a type of power that discriminate men and boys, letting them suffer in silence, ostracized, in conflict and to made believe that they are the ones that could do harm and do not deserve to be protected; whilst numbers, real ones, will tell a different story. Idealogical parties, governments and societies at large need to take responsibility and question themselves about how they have portrayed men and the consequences of such agendas in real life.
Luis Ordaz Perez, CPsychol