Suicide is a problem that affects people of all genders, but who has a higher suicide rate? It might surprise you that men have a higher suicide rate than women. This is in part because men are less likely to seek help for depression and other mental health problems. In this blog post, we will discuss the factors contributing to the high suicide rate among men and depression treatments that can help save lives.
Regardless of age, men—white and American Indian men in particular—have the highest suicide rates. The suicide rate for non-Hispanic white men from 2005 to 2007 was 22 deaths per 100,000, more than four times the rate for women of any racial or ethnic group and more than twice the rate for black, Asian, or Hispanic men. The rate for American Indian men was only slightly lower, at 19 deaths per 100,000.
Education and Social Networks Important
Within all these groups, education has a protective effect. More-educated people are less likely to turn to suicide, with some exceptions. Some occupations that require advanced education—such as dentists and physicians—are associated with higher suicide rates, presumably because they often are highly stressful and perhaps because they have easy access to lethal drugs.7
Likewise, maintaining social relationships protects people from attempting suicide. Married people are much less likely to commit suicide, but the risk increases after divorce or widowhood. Regular interaction with family members is significant, but social interactions with nonfamily members—including neighbors, work colleagues, or club members—also lower suicide risk.
Some population groups have a combination of risk factors that make them especially vulnerable: Military personnel, for example, are predominately young, male, and white. Many are dealing with difficult life situations or trauma and long separations from loved ones. And they have access to the most common means of suicide: drugs and firearms. About one-half of U.S. suicides involve guns, followed by suffocation, especially hanging, at 24 percent, and poisoning at 18 percent (including drug overdoses).
Researchers know much about what drives people to attempt suicide and how they can be deterred. Prevention efforts include:
• Special counseling services.
• Telephone hotlines.
• Screening tests for suicide risk.
• Reducing access to common means of self-injury such as loaded firearms, illegal substances, bridges, and rooftops.
The U.S. Army is mounting a large-scale effort to reduce the epidemic of suicides among service personnel.
Women are twice as likely as men to experience major depression, yet women are one-fourth as likely as men to take their own lives. Current and past explanations of this paradox are built on androcentric assumptions that women are deficient in some way. The reverse may be true where suicide is concerned. Men value independence and decisiveness, regard acknowledging a need for help as a weakness and avoiding it. Women value interdependence, and they consult friends and readily accept help. Women consider decisions in a relationship context, taking many things into consideration, and they feel freer to change their minds. It is argued here that women derive strength and protection from suicide from specific differences from men. Factors that protect women from suicide are opposite to vulnerability factors in men.
Women are more likely to try to kill themselves – three to four times more likely. But men are more likely to die from it. That’s a pattern that holds across Canada and in most of the rest of the world as well.
While suicide rates are higher for men, it’s important to remember that both genders are affected by this problem. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, don’t hesitate to seek help. Many treatments are available for depression, and with the right support, people can get the help they need to overcome these challenges.
Contact us today at (561) 421-6444 if you want more information about how we can help you or a loved one dealing with depression.