A serious topic, tackled sensitively

Horizon: Stopping Male Suicide (BBc2)

At the start of this powerful documentary, Dr Xand van Tulleken stated: “The most likely thing to kill me… is me.”

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK, claiming more lives than car accidents and cancer.

That’s a shocking stat, given government funding into suicide prevention is lagging (there is 22 times more funding for cancer patients than those with mental health problems).

The programme took a sensitive and thoughtprovoking look at why we develop suicidal thoughts and tried to answer why three times more men than women take their own lives.

Xand’s hunt for answers made for compelling rather than depressing viewing, as he spoke to men who have attempted to end their own lives and those working on the frontline of suicide prevention.

He also considered potential solutions, from an app using algorithms to predict those at risk with 90% accuracy to a hospital that screens every patient for mental health issues and suicidal thoughts, and one year saw suicide rates reduced to zero.

Whether the stats are down to a lack of funding in suicide prevention or a by-product of toxic masculinity, a simple solution becomes clear – if you’re struggling, speak up.

Like Xand said: “The power of a conversation should not be underestimated in the fight against suicide.”

Luckily in Scotland, we have projects that encourage men to do just that.

Hang upS (cHannel 4)

If laughter is the best medicine, this new comedy starring Stephen Mangan as a distracted web therapist is great TV therapy.

His improvised Skype sessions with celebs such as Richard E. Grant, David Tennant, and Jessica Hynes are a highlight.