White Men And Suicide Essay

"More people in the general population die from suicide than homicide in North America. There are almost 11 suicide deaths each year for every 100,000 people living in the United States, and for every suicide, there are between 8 and 25 attempts" (Brent 4203). Based on this research, the great effect of suicide is displayed. According to dictionary.com, suicide can be defined as "the intentional taking of one's own life." Suicide is a major issue for all people, but it most obviously affects those ranging from ten to twenty-four. People need to understand the tremendous ramifications caused from suicide everyday; when people take their lives, others lose their loved ones. Suicide, one of the leading causes of death of numerous people each day, has reached a crisis point for adolescents and young adults, and it needs to be prevented.

Among American civilians, whites have historically and significantly led the way in the rates of suicides. Although leveling off after the 1990’s, the rate of white suicides has still been almost twice as much as minority groups. It has also been shown that males commit suicide significantly more than females.

Suicide was seen as a just way to die if one was faced with unendurable suffering - be it physical or emotional”. Throughout time, suicide has been viewed and dealt with in countless ways. Recently in America, the problem has grown increasingly. In the past decade, suicide rates have been on the incline; especially among men. According to the New York Times (2013), “From 1999 to 2010, the suicide rate among Americans ages 35 to 64 rose by nearly 30 percent… The suicide rate for middle-aged men was 27.3 deaths per 100,000, while for women it was 8.1 deaths per 100,000”. A 30 percent increase with an average of 19 more male suicides than female suicides is certainly an issue for both genders, and an epidemic for men. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (n.d.), found that in 2010, 38,364 suicides were reported, with 78.9% being men. The economic recession, unemployment, and various other factors are speculated to be responsible for this incline in male suicide. As of 2010, an estimated 30,308 men ended their own lives, and it seems as if there is a great risk of that number increasing each year.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has published a fact sheet of statistics on suicide in the United States. In 2007, it is reported that suicide was the tenth leading cause of death. Furthermore, for every suicide committed, eleven were attempted. A total of 34,598 deaths occurred from suicide with an overall rate of 11.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 people. (NIMH, 2010). Risk factors were also noted on this report and listed “depression and other mental disorders, or a substance abuse disorder (often in combination with other mental disorders). More than ninety percent of people who die by suicide have these risk factors (NIMH, 2010).”

Every 7 in 10 suicides are from white males and they are mostly men who are middle aged (Suicide Statistics, 2016). A common trend sn high death rate for suicide is that the men lack higher education past high school. Those who do not have higher education could have problems with seeking higher paying jobs which is causing stress and leading to factors for the causes of suicide. People who are not educated are struggling to make ends meet and while the cost of living continues to rise the minimum wage is

There is a dramatic difference between the suicide rates of Caucasians and Non- Caucasian individuals. There are multiple reasons as to why that could be. One of the possible reasons for that stems from how our very society has been formed. When looking at the history, specifically here in the United States, we find that many Non-Caucasian groups of individuals have suffered at the hands of Caucasians in some way shape or form. Through that suffering, there was something that developed within those groups of people, resilience, strength, flexibility, and toughness. Non-Caucasian groups of people, for the most part, are use to the struggle that comes with being a minority so when all these hardships are happening, they do what their

According to further findings of the research, “In 2007, suicide was the third-leading cause of death among fifteen to twenty-four-year-old Black Americans.” When compared to their white peers they were also found to be more liable to attempt suicide. Sometimes stress can be unavoidable in our everyday lives; however, everyone’s coping method is different. Therefore, assisting someone in understanding the cause of the problem and learning how to cope is a very vital and effective way to prevent or reduce the number of individuals from taking their own lives. Wang and his colleagues (N(Wang, Nyutu, & Tran, 2012) also stated that, “Coping has played a mediator role between antecedent stressful event and psychological distress such as anxiety,

Dead White Males is an extremely controversial text as it presents the issues of choosing ideologies in the twenty-first century. Questioning the effects of the media, the academic world and exploring the study of ‘dead white males’, such as Shakespeare, the play is critical of both liberal humanism and post-structuralists views as it brings up the issues with both ideologies. Williamson uses characters such as Col, Sarah and Swain and their public and private appearances to lead Angela to the conclusion that there is a basic human nature which allows for decisions and freedom of choice. Portrayed as the Grandfather of the main character Angela, Col demonstrates how his public and private appearances show that there is a basic human nature

Usually I have a natural affiliation to viewing texts as a feminist, but recently this has been turned around. Masculinity is often perceived as the ideal trait for a man and this masculinity can be explored through the aspects of dominance, objectification, ownership and the space this dominance has in our society. The masculine lens puts most of its emphasis on strength and dominance, the idea of being able to control others. The epitome of a man's man can assert himself over others often by controlling physical and conscious space. This frequently violent type of masculinity has a huge influence over the feminine as well as creating a feeling of insignificance for men who do not fulfil this type. “Taking a ‘gender perspective' is often assumed to mean highlighting the roles, needs and rights of women and girls – vital to addressing persistent gender inequalities in access to power, influence, resources and security.

The start of what leads a person to suicide does not have anything to do with the person’s present life experiences, but with their early childhood experiences. This is because the view of others, outside family and friends, has no contribution to the pain that causes suicide and depression. Depression can include self-pity, shame, envy, and grandiosity. All of these things play a role in depression one way or another. Depressed people are usually subject to desire and grandiose ideation.

Everyone has heard the term, “Men rule the world,” before. Even though women are starting to break through into higher roles, men still control the political, economic, societal and religious position. However, with all this power comes a great deal of responsibility and pressure put on men. By pressure, I don’t just mean holding positions of power or being financially successful. But also the perceived notion that all men have to man up and “act masculine.” You have depression? Suck it up. You are unemployed? You’re a complete failure. You like a girl? It is your job to ask her first. Why do men have to be put into these “dominant” roles that society has placed on us since birth? Why is crying look down upon for men but ok for women? Why

     For a teen suffering from severe depression, has feelings of worthlessness that dominates their day. Despair is ever present and emotional pain feels like it will never end. Any situation of anger or disappointment may cause the teen to cross the line from wanting to die, to actually trying to kill themselves.

Suicide is a main source of death around the world and ranks among the three main causes of death among young adults aged between 15-45 years. Indeed, a response to this continuous worldwide issue, the World Health Organization called for the prevention of suicide (WHO, 2015). Several studies have evaluated some of the contributing factors, however, the connection between suicide and the evaluated factors is conclusively positive or negative.

This analysis reveals that while activity is an enduring trait of the masculine ideal, the idea that men need to be dominant over women has been, for the most part, eradicated from the portrait of “the ideal man” by modern society.

Gender inequality is not only present in women’s society but it is also unknowingly present in male culture. Traditional gender roles suggest that the masculinity of men is to show that they have power and