The UK suicide rate is three times higher for men than women. There are clear links to issues of masculinity here, such as pressures on men to never show ‘weakness’ or emotion, or the idea that it is ‘unmanly’ to struggle with one’s mental health. However, some groups of men are much more likely to take their own lives than others. The factors at play can vary substantially. And whilst they are less likely to die, women appear to be more likely to attempt to take their own lives and experience suicidal thoughts than men. Prof Jonathan Scourfield talks us through the complexities of what masculinity has to do with suicide, and other aspects of his work about engaging fathers, child welfare, and social work with men.
