Why do men have higher rates of suicide?

[ZeCommissar]

Most people know that men commit suicide more than women. Some people are ignorant and assume that since depression and self harm are higher in women, then they must commit more suicide as well.

This trend is seen across the entire world across almost every culture.

Why are men more likely to commit suicide? Is it because in the majority of societies want men to repress their feelings? Is it because men are more efficient at it? What are the thoughts of kiwis?

 

[Null]

That's only half true. Women attempt suicide more than men. Men commit suicide more than women.

 

[DuskEngine]

Some people are ignorant and assume that since depression and self harm are higher in women, then they must commit more suicide as well.

The rate of attempted suicide is commensurately higher among women.

Anyway, men are just globally better at violence, it seems. It stands to reason that this includes violence against themselves.

 

[Kartoffel]

As far as I'm informed, women also prefer less painful methods (like overdosing on certain meds), while men choose more often the most effective solution (like shooting yourself in the head). So it's kinda obvious that woman have a higher attemption rate (because the dieing process itself seems tolerable) while also falling more often (because the damage can be possibly undone or prevented by other people).

 

[DuckSucker]

Men are the disposable gender. Fodder for the front lines and fodder for factories.

It's not so black and white (obviously everybody has a different opinion) but that really simplifies it.

 

[Sperglord Dante]

While designing a reinforced beam, an engineer must be wary about how much steel he uses. A section which has too much steel is considered an over-reinforced section, an it's undesirable because the concrete fails before the steel yields and it's a explosive, sudden failure. Nobody sees it coming until it's too late. A section which has just enough steel so it yields before the concrete core is crushed is called an under-reinforced section, and it's the standard for design because it's safer. An under-reinforced section bends and cracks before failing, giving enough time for people to notice something's terribly wrong.

What do reinforced beams have to with male suicide rates, you ask? lemme explain:

Most people know that men commit suicide more than women. Some people are ignorant and assume that since depression and self harm are higher in women, then they must commit more suicide as well.

That's only half true. Women attempt suicide more than men. Men commit suicide more than women.

Women are under-reinforced beams. They show their cracks before falling apart .They're diagnosed with depression, they post suicide notes on social media, they try to OD on sleeping pills. That's how people notice something is wrong with them, and that's how they get help.

Men are over-reinforced beams. They just keep on piling and piling stress without showing any exterior signs, until one day they blow apart.

Most men are taught not to show weakness in front of others since they're young. It has its merits but it also has it's obvious downfalls.

 

[Some JERK]

Women tend to chose less painful methods that will leave their corpse presentable.

Spoiler: Men on the other hand...

 

[Jan_Hus]

A combination of many, many factors. Stress and no purpose in life are two things that come to my mind. id also say lack of a support structure is third on this list, while. Finally I'll put a small amount of blame on *that* part of the media and the outlets and people who scream "all men are evil scum REEEEEEE"

 

[yuna]

So it's kinda obvious that woman have a higher attemption rate (because the dieing process itself seems tolerable) while also falling more often (because the damage can be possibly undone or prevented by other people).

drug overdose also fails most of the time without any help being sought. most people od on shit that does literally nothing lethal. even if you pick a harmful drug, you're more likely wake up in a puddle of your own vomit than you are to die.

Women are under-reinforced beams. They show their cracks before falling apart .They're diagnosed with depression, they post suicide notes on social media, they try to OD on sleeping pills. That's how people notice something is wrong with them, and that's how they get help.

Men are over-reinforced beams. They just keep on piling and piling stress without showing any exterior signs, until one day they blow apart.

this is probably the best analogy I've heard.

as an answer for op's question, one could argue that this difference is created by society's expectations for men.

 

[Quijibo69]

Women tend to chose less painful methods that will leave their corpse presentable.

Spoiler: Men on the other hand...

Brendan Fraser really doesn't care anymore.

 

[Anchuent Christory]

Men are expected to be strong, stoic and emotionless. We're supposed to just "get on with it" and bulldoze through issues that crop up in our lives. We're especially not supposed to talk to our male peers about such things, because that would make us weak and them uncomfortable.
I don't need to tell anybody that that's a ridiculously unhealthy way to live and it's all going to come crashing down eventually.

Unless our sports team loses, then it's totes okay to cry like babies and hug each other.

 

[friedshrimp]

Could be something something about guns, and how men buy them more than women. Could be how some women tend to be over-medicated more often than men.

And the whole double-standards, that women are allowed to show their feelings and display their distress and frustration, while men are expected to bottle those things up and just keep working and holding together the "house". Also this sense of "chivalry" that is present in most people, that when they see a woman in peril they rush to her aid, but men are expected to "suck it up and do it yourself". It's an ages old idea regarding the genders, and it even ties into modern feminist narrative "all men are evil reeh and we must save women cause sisterhood".

 

[Hyperion]

Because women talk too much.

 

[vertexwindi]

That's only half true. Women attempt suicide more than men. Men commit suicide more than women.

Is there anything men can't do better than women?

 

[ZeCommissar]

Also I realized that since it's natural for men to usually be the seekers of intimate relationships, and as we all know there is no shortage of Nice Guys and incels, or just men that aren't that successful with women. I mean hell some men that ARE sucessful with attaining partners might get left by a spouse.

I could imagine this is a more prominent factor in countries like China and India with a huge gap in gender due to high female abortion/infantcide. This would cause more men than women, and most places have slightly more women than men. I shouldn't have to tell you what happens when almost a fourth of the male population are physically unable to find partners not because they are retarded, but because they aren't many around.

I will have to do more research on that though when I feel like it tho.

 

[Todesfurcht]

I have easily broken it down into three things:
1. There are more men in the population
2. High expectations from peers, family, and society
3. Men choose more lethal methods

 

[IV 445]

I think girls attempt suicide more often out of attention. They don't really want to die, they just want to feel better, and have people rush to their side when they feel lonely.

Guys aren't "like that" when it comes to attention-seeking methods. When guys try to kill themselves, they really want to die.

I guess when guys want attention or feel lonely, they try other things, but that's where my knowledge ends.

 

[Raziel]

All men are C.S.I. scum and don't deserve any remorse or pity, but in all seriousness, i think it really does come to being able to vent your frustrations and talking about your problems is one of the best ways of doing that, unfortunately men aren't allowed to do that cause if they do that, they'll be considered a pussy.

 

[Bassomatic]

I think a large factor aside mentioning males pick more effective methods is the mix of society and biological ideas of honor. Medically speaking men are more disposable, any good parent would give their lives to protect their children, we've all heard horror stories of that with out a doubt it's a mix of love and biology we do so. But if we have a partner males are the protector we hold our partner in high esteem, and fitness (in a species way) hence we are with them. If a husband and wife were crossing the street the man taking the car hit to protect the woman is much more common and reasonable.

I in no way do mean this as women are dishonorable or lesser for it it's just how we are built. I've also over the years just through casual talk found in "what ifs" of dire situations like super cancer, coma etc. The guys all seem to say pull the plug or I'll do it, girls it's a mixed bag. Ask a few guys and girls "what would make you kill yourself?" 99% of the time men will have a longer list if any at all.

I think we also have a hard time with "grey area" suicide, easiest example is historically almost all male of something like a rescue or combat. Running back into the burning building, or not leaving your bunker. Women haven't been exposed to these things as much and the cultural push is a bit more respectful for men who take their own lives even if not in a noble deed. So I can see how someone super depressed of losing a job would feel among those ranks as Leonides by not becoming a burden.

I think very much we as a society need to rethink how we feel and approach those who are at risk and understand what I consider the "real" number of suicides to be incredibly higher than what is listed. A guy who's upset and sees no reason to change his chain smoking, drug use, poor eating etc but holds a job when his liver fails it's cancer who got him, not he was black out drunk 7 days a week for 20 years. If someone got some kind of push to sort himself out early or if he literally felt unfixable and didn't feel pressured out of eating a .45 sundae forcing him to take a harsh slow road, but I don't want to swap topics to if suicide is ok or should be seen as such.

Over all I think it's a mix of biology and culture and even in a system of perfect medical and mental health care, men still would more often.

Little personal evidence, friends I have whom are married, both signed over power for that to me because neither agree, one wants plug pulled other not, both disagree with each other and don't trust families. Guess who's who.

 

[Beaniebon]

Is there anything men can't do better than women?

Live