Mengage
Engaging Health Services to Engage Men and Boys
Suicide is perhaps the most gendered health issue with a proportion of around four males for every female. The issues and contexts of suicide are complex and it is a product of many factors which makes it a difficult problem to address. These resources offer some of the personal insights into the causes and factors that lead to suicide in men. These personal accounts offer perhaps a more valuable set of insights into why ending life becomes the only option for many men and boys.
Suicide Prevention Australia: Position Paper On Alcohol, Drugs and Suicide Prevention
This document is Suicide Prevention Australia's position on the interaction between drugs, alcohol and suicide. It is acknowledged that the presence of alcohol and drugs can heighten the likelihood of suicide or suicidal feelings. "The recognition of AOD abuse as a mental illness remains poorly understood by the public and policy makers..."
LIFE: Evidence On Suicide And Men
The Life Framework (Living Is For Everyone) is a program based in WA that aims to support people in life with a significant evidence base.
The LIFE Framework is a National Suicide Prevention Strategy project managed by Crisis Support Services on behalf of the Department of Health and Ageing. The project aims to improve access to suicide and self-harm prevention activities in Australia through the promotion of the LIFE resources and website and improve communication between suicide prevention stakeholders in Australia.
Beyondblue: The Ripple Effect
The Ripple Effect is part of beyondblue's STRIDE Project. It investigates what works to reduce self-stigma and perceived stigma among males from the farming community ages 30-64 years, who have either lost someone to suicide, attempted suicide, had thoughts of suicide, have cared for someone who has attempted suicide, or have been affected by suicide in some way.
John Ashfield PhD: Preventing Suicide in Indigenous Communities
This booklet contains information for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous health professionals, community leaders and key community members seeking to gain better knowledge about suicide prevention in Aboriginal communities.
Life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men is on average 11 years shorter, and they suffer worse health outcomes than Non-Indigenous men. MENGAGE fully supports the work of John Ashfield, PhD improving efforts in suicide prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
MATES in Construction: Suicide In The Construction Industry
The MATES in Construction charity was established by The Building Employees Redundancy Trust (BERT) in 2008 to reduce suicide in the construction industry and improve the mental health and wellbeing of Queensland construction workers. It has since become available in NSW, SA and WA.
The Samaritans: Men, Suicide And Society: Why Disadvantaged Men Die By Suicide
This UK report provides an extensive overview of the many of the factors that lead to a man's suicide, and as such it offers a detailed and extensive overview of causes and factors.Middle age is often reported as a time of particular stress for men (and women). The combination of rising stresses imposed by dynamics around careers, family, personal life experiences and many other factors can contribute to a feeling of being 'stuck by your choices' - too hard to change direction yet still so much to live for.
Suicide Prevention Australia: Position Paper On Suicide In Rural Australia
Despite rising rates of suicide, it is only relatively recently that interest has been directed towards the relationship between suicide and geographical location. As a consequence, several studies have demonstrated that notable differences exist between urban-rural suicide rates. "Improved mental health literacy, accessibility of services and resources, and coordinated initiatives that encourage help-seeking remain central to minimising the risk of suicide..."
AMHF: The Need For Male-Friendly Approaches to Suicide Prevention in Australia...
While men account for 75.7% of all suicides, the majority of time, money and energy invested in researching and preventing suicide fails to target male suicide. The Australian Men's Health Forum recommends male-friendly approaches to suicide in Australia. "Suicide kills six men a day in Australia. It is the leading killer of men and boys under 45 and claims more lives than road traffic accidents..."
Western Sydney University: Pathways to Despair: The Social Determinants of Male Suicide
Western Sydney University: Pathways to Despair: The Social Determinants of Male Suicide In 2010, the Men's Health Information and Resource Centre was commissioned to investigate the causes and factors behind male suicides on the NSW Central Coast. This report uncovers the stories from survivors and families of men who took their own lives.AIMHS: A 'Situational Approach' to Suicide Prevention
The situational approach to suicide prevention acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span.Menzies School Of Research: Indigenous Suicide Discussion Paper
For a thorough overview of suicide in Indigenous populations, this review provides a useful context and detailed information.In analysing deaths from suicide in Aboriginal people, one is struck by the great disparity between the genders but particularly by the huge peak of young Aboriginal men that peaks from about 20-35 years of age that take their own lives.
AIMHS: Menswatch Promoting Male Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
AIMHS: Menswatch Promoting Male Mental Health & Suicide Prevention A new end-to-end approach to suicide prevention is urgently needed to stem the increasing numbers of male suicides in Australia, and more effective support needs to be provided to men in distress. "Deaths due to suicide significantly exceed fatalities from motor vehicle accidents and homicides combined."
Ireland Men's Health Forum: Young Men And Suicide Project
Like many countries, Ireland has an ongoing problem with young men taking their lives at a rate of five times that of females. This project examined effective ways to reduce suicide. "The project aimed to promote positive mental health among young men and to assess the efficacy of these approaches..."
Public Health Agency: Using Young Men's Experiences To Inform Mental Health Services
The overarching aim of this study was to obtain a comprehensive understanding of suicidal behaviour amongst men aged 16-34 to underpin the provision of accessible, acceptable and appropriate mental health services "Part of providing pro-active, community level service provision should be embedded in manifestly non 'mental health' contexts..."
The trend of male suicides in Northern Ireland follows a pattern that is consistent with that has been experienced in Australia. Suicide rates remained relatively static in the first half of the 20th Century but increased significantly thereafter. In Northern Ireland, suicides increased by 64% between 1999 and 2008, accounted largely by increases in suicides among males in the 15-34 age group. In 2008, almost 77% of suicides were by males.
AIMHS: Suicide Fact Sheet
This fact sheet lists the factors associated with male suicide in Australia. It also discusses the rates of suicide in Australia and the rest of the world, as well as the importance of early intervention and prevention. Health/Mental Health Services need to have a 'men-friendly' approach when working with men.