Suicide prevention: Our men are killing themselves!
Given the rate at which men are committing suicide, we might just wake up one day to realise that the country has a serious shortage of the male species. Already men are in short supply, with statistics indicating that currently 52 percent of the population is female, while males make up only 49 percent. While suicide affects both genders, it is evident that it affects more men far more than women. Our men are killing themselves! What is the problem? This is an appeal to those that can “go deeper” both from medical science and spiritual leadership to tell us what the real problem is and how we can solve it. The most perplexing fact is that according to research, women have a high suicidal ideation than men, and are actually more likely to try to kill themselves, but men are more likely to die from it. Kana ke gore when a man is overwhelmed and takes a decision to take their own life, they will do it without thinking twice, employing worst “no-going back” methods. While women on the other side, opt for “softer” methods like overdosing on pills.
If this problem is not attended to with the urgency it deserves, men will continue to take their lives and in even more painful cases, take victims with them, as in the case of murder-suicides, which are also alarming. We need to ensure that masculinity does not get in the way of getting help so that men who need it can access it without being judged. It is often said that some men may look all macho on the outside, but on the inside may be battling issues like unemployment, failed romantic relationships, financial problems, among others, without the capability to deal with them. Since a pattern has emerged in relation to suicide incidents of men vs women, may be it is high time that experts in issues of mental health should prioritise and give special attention to men and boys. When women rights activists, years ago, realized that women were at the receiving end of gender inequality, they stood up and turned the tables to ensure that women and girls have a seat at the table. Well, the journey still continues. Maybe the same approach and urgency should be taken regarding suicide.
Suicide prevention programs should acknowledge that men and boys are a high-risk group and tailor messages and programs to them.
The wish is that there could be some antidote administered when signs of suicidal ideation are seen. An injection that can offer instant relief and cure. However, the reality is that it is not as easy as that. For starters, it may even be hard to identify when someone is thinking about taking their life. The good news is that many people who have had suicidal thoughts also have depression or some other diagnosable mental health disorder. Treatments for such are available, among them therapy and medications such as antidepressants. We must all, however appreciated that this is a process not an event.