In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the number of men who end their lives prematurely through suicide. Research shows that while women tend to experience more suicidal thoughts, men are far more likely to die by suicide.
Research also suggests that while women attempt suicide more often, men choose more lethal means.
From January 2020 to June 2021 about 82.33% of males committed suicide, compared to 13.40% of their female counterparts and about 4.27% was recorded among children in Namibia.
There are some theories as to why men are at a greater risk of death by suicide, such as traditional male gender roles discourage emotional expression, depression may be underdiagnosed in men, men are less likely to seek help for their emotional problems and men may be more likely to self-treat symptoms of depression with alcohol and other substances.
There are strategies that both individuals and communities can utilise to help reduce the risk of male suicide, including watching for signs of depression, offering support and not ignoring the signs.
It is also important to realise that in our quest to empower the girl child, we do not do it exclusively at the expense of the boy child, but rather strike a balance between the two to develop a cohesive balanced society that offers equal opportunities.
Other ways to help reduce male suicide are by identifying men who are at risk and offering support, teaching men coping and problem-solving skills, making mental health support options readily available, creating opportunities that bring people together to form social connections and find support, and restricting access to lethal means of suicide, such as firearms and prescription drugs.
Reframing help-seeking is also important.
Men may avoid asking for help because they fear it is a sign of weakness.
Finding ways to change this perspective is a critical aspect of reducing male suicide rates.
Reframing help-seeking is often perceived as masculine behaviour and decreases the likelihood that men will ask for help when they need it.
In conclusion, getting help for people expressing suicidal intent or showing the warning signs is incredibly important.
There are many people and places men can turn to for help, including family doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, voluntary organisations, community mental health centres, local hospitals, clinics and health centres as well as social agencies.
* Nelson Shayela Makemba is a general practitioner at Nesha Medical Practice.