Last week, the Office for National Statistics released the latest data on suicide in England and Wales, and if you were hoping for a positive outlook, I’m sorry, but it’s bleak. Last year, we had the worst male suicide rates of this century. This year, we’ve broken that record. And this isn’t due to a failure of men, masculinity or a “toxic” male mindset; it’s a failure of society at a level that is simply beyond comprehension. Think about it – The group/s most at risk of suicide today are middle-aged men (aged 50–54) who are divorced, unemployed, and living in deprived towns in the North East of England. And so, to me, this data is yet again another reminder that all our glossy suicide prevention campaigns, our slick marketing schtick, and all our million-pound TV ads are still looking in the wrong places. No. We will not turn the tide on male suicide with a diatribe of expensive, celebrity-focused, London-centric, hipster-chic campaigning, where people wring their hands or wag their fingers on red carpets, blabber about nothing on podcasts, or invite men “to talk” at exorbitant trauma weekends. Because in reality, the men most in need of help can’t afford such things, and don’t even know they exist. What’s more – Suicide prevention continues to be framed as a “mental health issue”, despite most suicidal men saying their issue is not primarily one of mental health at all, but one of debt, unemployment, relationship breakdown, child custody, loneliness, drug and gambling addiction, domestic abuse and Adverse Childhood Experiences. These are not issues that can be solved simply by through “men talking”. These are issues that need to be unapologetically addressed at a societal, economic, legal, structural and political level. So please stop saying to me “men can talk”. Most men already are, and they’re doing so beautifully. The issue is, as it always has been, that society refuses to listen to what men are saying. So let’s take a look at the latest data and ask ourselves: how can we all do better to turn this around? What do you think? ~ Suicides in England and Wales: 1981 to 2025 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/1981to2025 Understanding suicide registrations following a change to the standard of proof in England and Wales https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/understandingsuicideregistrationsfollowingachangetothestandardofproofinenglandandwales/2025-10-03

2026-10-21