Table of contents:
- How can someone try to commit suicide?
- Why are men more prone to suicide?
- Men are at higher risk of dying by suicide using more extreme methods
- What can be done to reduce the suicide rate?
According to data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO), men are at a much higher risk than women for trying to commit suicide and even die from it. In 2015, WHO also noted that out of every 100,000 population in the world, 17 men and 10 women died of suicide. How can men be more prone to suicide than women? Can this possibility be avoided? Check out the full explanation below.
How can someone try to commit suicide?
Suicide is a very complex phenomenon because it concerns the human psychological condition which is equally complex. So, the cause of a person to commit suicide cannot only be seen from one side. There must be so many things that play a role in a person's decision to end his life.
So, it is almost impossible to blame just one factor. For example, biological factors, namely serious mental disorders that make a person lose his mind. Or environmental factors such as job loss or divorce. These various factors can play a role together.
However, a person will only attempt suicide when he feels that there is no way out. He may also believe that the world or the people around him will be better off when he dies. These thoughts can come from mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, to schizophrenia (crazy).
Then, people who have attempted suicide, especially those who have killed themselves, are not to blame. It is the same as when a cancer patient is not to blame for contracting the disease.
Why are men more prone to suicide?
The reason why men are prone to suicide is not simple. According to a senior psychologist from Singapore General Hospital, Evelyn Boon, M.A., men and women do have different ways of processing or expressing emotions.
Men usually keep to themselves anxious or sad because they don't want to appear weak. Because of that, they don't want to cry or reveal their hearts to others even though they are really desperate. As a result, this despair continues to build up and "poison" the soul until finally it is no longer strong enough to contain it.
In addition, most men prefer to look for concrete solutions rather than just confide and seek moral support. So as long as they have not succeeded in finding a solution to the problem with their own capital, the support of their closest people may not be enough to foster their hope for a better life.
A specialist in psychiatry from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention which is engaged in suicide prevention, dr. Christine Moutier also added that men are generally reluctant to seek help when experiencing depression or other mental health problems. For example, by going to a doctor or undergoing psychological counseling. That's why they can't treat depression and keep on thinking about ending their life.
This tendency is different from women. According to Evelyn Boon, women are actually better able to express and manage their emotions by crying or confide with the people closest to him.
Men are at higher risk of dying by suicide using more extreme methods
Besides the reasons above, the reason why more men who die of suicide than women are because men tend to choose more extreme methods when trying to commit suicide. This was revealed in a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry in 2016.
According to experts, the reason a person can choose a more extreme way to commit suicide is based on four things. These include not being afraid of dying, being strong with pain, feeling emotionally numb, and wanting to feel the sensation of hurting or taking his own life.
However, it is not yet known whether men have these traits because of their biological nature or because of environmental factors that shape their personality in such a way. Further research is needed to prove this.
What can be done to reduce the suicide rate?
Suicide can be prevented. One way to do it is by leaving the ancient mindset that men should always be strong and not cry. Just like women, men also need to express and manage their emotions, by crying and confide though. Crying and confide not a sign of weakness, but a sign that you are strong enough to fight against despair.
Another way to try is to see a doctor or psychologist if symptoms of depression appear. Especially if the urge to attempt suicide begins or you become obsessed with death. That way, you can avoid the risk of death because men are prone to suicide.
