Analysis of the Epidemic of Male Suicide Essay

Over the past decade suicide rates have been either stagnant or have been decreasing over all of the demographics of people. One demographic of people's suicide rate, on the other hand, has risen at a substantial rate. Scientists and researchers have just started studying this trend and have yet to draw one specific reason on why middle aged white males suicide rates are climbing. The suicide rate for this demographic of people has just surpassed the deaths by automobile accidents. This recent epidemic has got many researchers and scientists asking the question of “why?”.

The third key idea is the gender gap. The text defines the gender gap of suicide by explaining that even though women have a higher rate of suicide attempts, men have a higher rate of suicidal deaths. This term was well defined in the article and the information given with it was presented substantially. The authors put together convincing statistics, although one source that was associated with multiple statistics was from 1997, which brings to question the validity of those statistics in today’s rapidly- changing society; almost 20 years later.

Studies have shown that men have searched for help with depression just as well as women. However, it’s less likely for men to seek help because women are more vulnerable to depression. From younger years’ boys are taught to avoid revealing their emotions because it might threaten their social rank and their sense of identity. Men have the idea if they ask for any type of help they will lose their masculine touch. Men are more likely to help others rather than help themselves.

The Center for Disease Control is responsible for keeping track and providing facts and figures for suicide. They describe suicide as a serious problem and a leading cause of death in the United States. It is in fact the 10th leading cause of death across all age groups. In 2013, an estimated 41,149 people successfully committed suicide (Understanding). In contrast, 494,169 attempted to harm or kill themselves but failed (Understanding). Many more people are thought to have tried and not sought out help, leaving them an unknown factor in the equation. All in all, suicide and its attempt are responsible 6.1 billion dollars in medical and work loss costs in the United States annually (Understanding).

Another important aspect to look into is the different reasons why men and women commit suicide. For women, it is often thought that the main reason for female suicide is from depression over relational failure or problems with relationships (Kalish et al 2010). For men, suicidal behaviors are believed to be stemmed from achievement failure or identity threats that can come from a failure of living up to the hegemonic masculine identity (Kalish et al 2010). When looking at the idea that the main cause for suicidal behaviors in men is the mindset that they failed to live up to the masculine identity. In the distorted lens of a man that is contemplating suicide, it could seem that the only way for this man to attain the identity of being ‘masculine’

In this case study, researchers examined the geographic factors that associated with male suicide in United States. Researchers decided to study on the male suicide because over the past decade suicide death toll gradually increased. From 2000 to 2006, suicide was ranked as the eighth leading cause of death for men and eleventh leading cause of death in the United States. Male suicide rate was four times higher than the female counterpart. By 2009, more Americans died from suicide than from other cause of deaths. These high death tolls make the public to focus more on the study/investigation on suicide in America. The study used county level data between 2000- 2006 focusing on three variables, which included martial status, migration, and unemployment in America. The researchers believed that through understanding the connection between social

Women are more often diagnosed with depression because they are stereotyped as being overly emotional and irrational based on these emotions, versus men who are idealized as being emotion-less, therefore more logically sensable. This may mean that clinicians are more anxious and more willing to diagnose with women with depression because they are hyperaware of symptoms of depression in women, and more quickly link these dynamics together once they are detected in women. This is because people become hyperconscious of signs that may confirm stereotypes and are driven to confirm these stereotypes that may be consciously or subconsciously held within their beliefs and morals. Men are told by society that it is not masculine nor normal to exhibit

The expression of depression in men can be very complex. There can be additional problems with measuring depression in men than with women. Men use various ways to hide and suppress their depression. Depression in men can be hidden in their being antisocial and participating in risk taking behaviors. Such behaviors can be drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, road rage, extra sexual activities or adventures, gambling, binge drinking and various types of violence. This violence can result also in suicide. Men are three to five times more likely than women to die from suicide. Depression is the most commonly associated condition with mood

Males and Suicide Suicide is one of the biggest leading causes of death on this earth. The rate for suicide amongst males is three times higher than for females, although, a lot of people think differently. As there are many proven reasons and facts why males are more likely to commit suicide than females, In this essay, we will only focus on three of these reasons. The first reason being, the level of stress men go through just to fulfil their expected social roles can be very difficult for them to cope with. Men are taught all of their social roles at a young age, they may feel like they have to fulfill these roles to live up to the highest standards.

Studies show that depression affects more women than it does men. This could simply be because women have their monthly hormonal changes and are more vulnerable, or it could be because society puts more pressure and limitations on women than they do men. The same percentages of men have depression than women, but because women are more open and honest about their feelings they are more likely to seek professional help when they feel it is necessary (R.Nagel, 2002). With men, society makes them feel as if they have to be strong, and encourages them not discuss their feelings. If they reach out for help, they don’t meet the criteria that society says they should and they will be perceived as “weak” and “emotional” when that’s really not the

Of the total suicides in 2014 76% of them were males that is three times as many as female suicides in 2014(1). Many people will say that this because men hold their emotions in and do not want to share so that is why men commit suicide without any help, this is just another stereotype o masculinity that we have. However Dr John Ashfield believes that this is “lazy and simplistic” and that people must stop point fingers at men’s inability to get help and we must give help to men. Some will say that men are just a problem for the world but this is a lie.

Furthermore, the results also report suicide, in general, is more common among men than women. This article is not the first to confirm that statistic, however, it is important to consider the factors of why this may be true. “Why males have a higher suicide rate than females is a subject that is complex and poorly understood and involves aspects such as sex, social factors, medical factors, and occupations” (Dean et al., 2012, p.1228). Other than that, this article clearly cuts to the point without making too many bias statements and instead tests the question they aim to answer in the

There is a significant disparity in suicide rates between males and females; more specifically, the rates of attempted and completed suicides are unbalanced. Studies conducted by CDC in 2015 show that males are nearly four times as successful in completion of suicide than females; however, the prevalence of suicidal thoughts is much higher among females than it is among males as shown in the 2013 research by SAMHSA (29). So if women are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and attempt suicide, why are men more likely to actually die from suicide? A biological study found that lower serotonin and higher dopamine levels in males causes them to be more depressed and impulsively act, therefore increasing the suicide rate (Kumpula). Other studies try to explain this without the interference of genetic differences. Mościcki reports that this paradox is due to the differential rate of depression and alcohol abuse between the genders (156). Canetto and Sakinofsky say that it is predominantly a cultural aspect, that is, different suicidal behaviours are expected of females and males (1). Callanan and Davis attribute this to the lethality of the methods chosen by men and women (Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 857). In this essay, I will be exploring Callanan and Davis’ theory to explain the higher rates of suicide in men, despite not attempting it as often as females.

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” Phil Donahue said these words, hoping to send a message; a message that suicide is a temporary and irreparable solution to an otherwise less than unmanageable problem. Suicide continues to be a phenomenon that no one fully understands. The rise of suicide can be directly interpreted by its precursors and their validity in newer generations such as adolescents in a time and society such as this. Suicide has moved from the realm of total taboo to a topic of increasing interest and concern for ail. Suicide, as a means of ending one's life, is not an accepted way to die in western culture. Some researchers have alluded that it may be "normal" for someone to use suicide as a means of

Suicide is a serious social problem in the US. But what is suicide? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, suicide is defined as “the act or an instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally”. However, these are only words that do not express the real situation behind suicide nor how dramatic and horrifying are the previous moments of committing suicide. The statistics of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention indicates that 122 people commit suicide in the US every day. The most prone to suicide are white men between 45 and 64 years of age. Also, there is an average of 25 attempts per every suicide case.