It’s men’s mental health month, and as much as it’s important to raise awareness around #mentalhealth, and the importance of discussing it without stigma, it is also a time to speak about what mental health is not.
And no…’mental health’ is not the best lens through which to view and understand the epidemic of male suicide, which remains the leading cause of death in men below the age of 50.
No doubt in the week before this, and in the weeks to come, #mensmentalhealthmonth will be marked with many well meaning calls, and kind words, to reduce male suicide.
Many will share numbers to call, a plea to ‘talk’, or offer a listening ear; but what few will speak of, is how most suicidal men don’t even conceptualise the problem they have as a ‘mental heath problem’, at all.
In fact, most of these men are of sound mind, viewing suicide as a rational and solution based outcome, to ‘solve’ a problem they can no longer bear.
These men will point to debt, or joblessness, some kind of relationship breakdown, experiences of bullying, or abuse, sexual trauma, physical disability, loneliness, child custody breakdown…
And when it comes to such issues, each of which can lead directly to suicide, it is not men who refuse to talk, but society.
We refuse to talk about such issues men face, or even deny their existence entirely.
It’s a strange time to be an advocate fighting male suicide, because so many people claim to care, but when it comes to having the difficult, ugly discussions around the very things that cause male suicide, the room suddenly empties and the kindness evaporates.
The simple fact is, that male suicide has been in the limelight for years now; the campaigns have run, the money has been spent, and the problem is no better.
Something is not working.
Yes.
We are right to ask for “talk”, but not just words from the men needing our help, but “talk” from everybody else too.
So why are men doing this?
Are suicide interventions working?
And have we gotten our view of men’s issues, and male suicide, all wrong?
What do you think?
~
Watch the full Podcast here https://tinyurl.com/2tzz4fpw @themodernminduk
#malesuicideawareness #mensmentalhealth
2024-06-06