Across the globe, on average, one man dies by suicide every minute of every day (Movember). And, across England and Wales, the highest rates of suicide are in men aged 50–54.
It’s often believed that higher suicide rates among men come down to a lack of communication, with 84% of UK men saying that they bottle up their emotions, and almost half saying that they suppress their feelings often or at least once a day. This is reinforced by the fact that men are 32% less likely than women to seek mental health help from a doctor.
While communication often comes less naturally to many men, research has shown that acknowledging and talking about suicide can help reduce it and start people on the road to recovery.
If you’re feeling depressed or without hope, please know that help is out there for you. You never have to suffer in silence. It’s always possible to find a way out.
Why you may be having suicidal thoughts
Suicidal thoughts can come on when feelings of sadness have become very intense, and you’re struggling to cope with the weight of them. Having these thoughts doesn’t make you weak or flawed; it simply means that you’re feeling more pain than you can cope with at the moment.
There could be many reasons for this pain. For example…
- The end of a relationship
- Financial or legal issues
- Losing someone you love
- Feeling lonely
- Losing a job, and/or struggling to find employment
- Having an illness or disability that affects your quality of life
- Depression/low mood – not always for a specific reason
- Feeling anxious
- Use of alcohol or drugs
- Societal pressures
- Low self-esteem
When you just want the pain to stop, you might feel as though ending your life is the only way out. But suicidal thoughts are only temporary, and with time and support, you can always work through your pain and feel okay again, no matter how difficult it currently seems.
Things to remember if you’re having suicidal thoughts
Sometimes feelings of sadness or hopelessness can be so great that focusing on anything else or seeing an end to what you’re going through feels impossible. But try to keep the following thoughts in mind…
- Emotions are temporary. Tomorrow, you could feel completely different from how you feel today – and how you feel next week or next month could be different yet again. Suicidal thoughts are not permanent and will pass.
- You still have time to make a difference, meet new people, see new places, and have your life’s purpose become clear again.
- You’re never alone. There are always people who would miss you if you were no longer here, even if you think otherwise. Your presence is felt, and your life is valuable.
- Suicide does not solve problems. In fact, it often creates more problems than it solves.
- Many people who want to end their lives do so because they are seeking relief. But you can’t experience relief if you aren’t alive. Seeking help, on the other hand, can offer relief.
- People do get through this (one in four people have thoughts about suicide), and there’s always hope. Have a watch of the video below to see examples of men who had suicidal thoughts and came out the other side.
A message for men by men
Note: This video might be difficult to watch if you are struggling mentally.
The video above is hosted by Brighton SOS services, who offer several support groups. If you’d like to find a nearby support group, the Rethink Mental Illness website offers a range of options.
Steps to take if you’re having suicidal thoughts
As well as keeping the above thoughts in mind, there are also practical actions you can take to overcome suicidal thoughts.
1. Press pause
Every Life Matters reminds us that if you’re ever thinking about hurting yourself, you should hold off, press pause, and not make any decisions right now.
There’s a big difference between thought and action, so place some distance between the two. Accept that you are thinking of ending your life, but promise yourself that you won’t do anything right now. And in the meantime, speak to someone you trust.
2. Speak to someone you trust
You don’t have to suffer in silence. Find someone you trust to talk to about your feelings, whether that’s a friend, therapist, family member, doctor, neighbour, or helpline counsellor. Talking about how you’re feeling can help you get things off your chest and relieve some pressure.
It can also help lead you to a solution to your problems. Just because ending your life seems like the only option, it doesn’t mean there are no other solutions – it just means you can’t see them yet. Pain can cloud your thinking and make it difficult to see a way forward, which is why connecting with others can help. Sometimes others can show us the way when we feel lost.
If the person you’ve chosen to speak to doesn’t understand, don’t take this as a sign that your feelings don’t matter, because they do. Instead, try to speak with someone else.
Sometimes reaching out can feel uncomfortable and embarrassing, and you might be worried about showing your vulnerability to others, but there’s never shame in asking for help. You have a lot to offer, so don’t give up on yourself or underestimate your value in the world.
Justin, whose story is featured on Movember’s website, is an example of this. He hit rock bottom after losing his job and felt that the world was better off without him. It wasn’t until he had some heartfelt conversations with friends and family that he finally began to take steps forward and change the direction of his life. He said, “In truth, there are a lot of blokes out there doing it tough, but the tragedy is, we don’t talk about it. It’s time we started.”
3. Try to avoid drugs and alcohol
Emotions generally can become heightened when you’re using drugs and alcohol, so it’s important to stay away from them if your mood is low and/or you are thinking about ending your life. Though it can feel tempting to try to mask your pain with drugs and alcohol, it can make suicidal thoughts stronger.
4. Find a safe space
If you’re thinking about hurting yourself, remove anything from your home that might enable you to do this. If you feel unsafe and don’t trust yourself, go and stay somewhere where you do feel safe, such as with a friend or family member.
5. Create small goals for yourself
Creating small goals can help distract you from suicidal thoughts and give you some purpose. It’s important that the goals feel manageable and not overwhelming. This could include things like getting out for a short walk, making yourself a meal you’ve enjoyed in the past, or phoning someone you’re particularly fond of. Try to set yourself one small goal a day.
6. Hold onto hope
No matter how hopeless, sad, or alone you’re feeling, it’s possible to work through these feelings and come out on the other side. You might not feel better straight away, but with time and support, you can. Just remember that you don’t have to struggle on your own, and no one expects you to.
7. Look after yourself
Self-care can be a helpful way to start feeling better, even if it’s the last thing that you feel like doing. To start with, you might feel like you’re going through the motions by tidying up your beard or making time to exercise. But in time, you might begin to enjoy taking care of yourself.
8. Even if suicidal thoughts have passed, consider speaking to your GP
Even if suicidal thoughts have passed, you might still be feeling depressed or anxious, so it’s important to speak to your GP, who can talk you through your options. This can help you get things under control, so that suicidal thoughts are less likely to come back.
Depending on what you’re feeling at the time, they might discuss medication with you, refer you to a psychologist, or suggest groups that you could attend for support.
Where to turn for help and support
If you feel like you might attempt suicide, please…
- Call 999 and ask for an ambulance
- Go straight to A&E if you can get there
- Call your local crisis team if you have their number
- Reach out to a close friend or loved one
If you feel you’re unable to do this yourself, please ask someone to do it for you. If you’re feeling desperate and would like to speak to someone about how you’re feeling…
- Call the Samaritans on 116 123 (any time, 24 hours, seven days a week), where someone non-judgemental and compassionate will listen and help you explore your feelings. You can also email [email protected].
- Call the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight, every day) or use their webchat service.
- If you live in England, you can call an NHS urgent mental health helpline for advice and support. You can find your local helpline using this NHS page.
What to do if you think someone you know might be feeling suicidal, or struggling to cope
Movember has identified four simple steps (known as ALEC) you can use to have a helpful conversation with a man in your life who might be struggling.
- Ask how they are feeling, and really listen to the answer. Even if they say they’re fine, have they recently been acting differently? Do they sound different from usual? Have they gone quiet in a group chat? Don’t be afraid to ask someone twice if they’re really okay.
- Listen (make sure they know you’re listening) and give them your full attention. Choose somewhere quiet to speak, where you aren’t likely to be interrupted.
- Encourage them to focus on simple things that could improve how they feel. This could include going for a walk, going out for dinner, or getting a haircut.
- Check in with them after you chat. If you’re concerned about someone, don’t expect a one-off conversation to fix everything, or think that because someone says, “I’m fine”, that this is entirely true. Checking in with someone can help remind them that you’re there to listen and that someone cares about them.
It’s also worth reading the information from Rethink Mental Illness, which looks at why someone might think about suicide and how you can help them, as well as how you can look after yourself if you’re supporting someone else.
For further support, you might be interested in our articles: 8 tips for speaking to your employer about your mental health and 10 of the best mental health apps.
Have you struggled with suicidal thoughts? Do you have any tips that could help someone else? Leave a comment below if you’re comfortable discussing this with others.
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