Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with the mental health conditions most commonly associated with suicide, they are more likely than men to attempt suicide. Even so, men are still more likely to take their own lives than women. Why? There are a few possible explanations.
- Different means – When women attempt suicide, they most often choose methods like overdose and poisoning, which are incredibly dangerous but can often be reversed through rapid medical intervention. When men attempt suicide, they more often do so with firearms or by hanging themselves. In fact, more than half of all suicides in the United States are completed using firearms, and suffocation, including hangings, was the next most common cause, at 25 percent. Older men are especially likely to end their lives with guns.
- Lack of support – It may be tempting to assume that just because women are more likely to be diagnosed with conditions that are commonly linked to suicide, men are less likely to suffer from those mental illnesses. Unfortunately, this may not be accurate. Men are less likely to participate in therapy (sometimes perceiving their struggles as a sign of weakness) or have close social circles that they can turn to for help, putting them at higher risk for loneliness and social isolation. It may also mean the warning signs they do show are less likely to be observed.
- Language differences – Even when men do reach out for help with their mental health, clinicians may not recognize red flags for suicidal ideation as readily as they would in women. One study found that the police reports and public health records referring to women who died by suicide often referenced therapy, welfare checks, and other treatment-related words to talk about the difficulties the deceased was having before their death. These are words most professionals would associate with suicide risk. In the same study, police reports and public health records referring to men who had died by suicide more often used words referencing job loss, substance misuse, money trouble, and strange behavior. These words might not be as easily recognized as indicators of suicide risk.
- Fewer opportunities for professional intervention – Men are less likely to interact with the healthcare system in general. An example of this is when a family welcomes a new baby into their lives. Women are more likely to be screened for depression and other mental health struggles when they are pregnant or have recently delivered a baby, while men are not often seen at this time.
Recognizing Suicide Risk Factors
Red flags for suicide might not look the same from one person to the next, and men are especially likely to show signs that look more like anger and self-loathing than sadness:
- Recent losses – significant relationship, job, or home
- Aggressiveness, agitation, or desire for revenge
- Impulsivity and risky behaviors
- Physical or mental health issues or what could be undiagnosed symptoms of them
- Withdrawing from or saying goodbye to friends and family as though they will never see them again
- Talking or writing about hopelessness, guilt, or shame; isolation or loneliness; lack of purpose; death or dying; being a burden to others; loved ones being better off without them
How to Help Suicidal People
If you think someone might be thinking about suicide, it is important to take immediate action to ensure they remain safe.
- Talk to them – ask them if they are thinking about suicide and if they have a plan for how they would end their life.
- Don’t leave them alone – stay with them or contact friends or family members who can be with them until the urge to end their life passes.
- Help them be safe – If they share a plan, try to remove their ability to access whatever items they might need to act on their plan.
- Connect them to help – if the suicidal person has a therapist, you can help them reach out to that professional. If not, or if they are unable to reach the therapist right away, you can help them to call or text 988, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
- If you don’t believe they can be safe alone, call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room.
At Palms Behavioral Health in Harlingen, Texas, we treat adolescents, adults, and seniors who are struggling with mental health and suicidal thoughts, and we want to ensure that anyone who is considering taking their life gets the help they need and deserve. We use compassionate, trauma-informed approaches to make it easier for people to reach out when they are struggling
