Why do you think men commit suicide at a higher rate than women?

Question

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Technically women attempt more. But men succeed more, and it's hard to attempt multiple times if you're dead.

And a lot of that is what it comes down to. I've have classmates of both genders attempt suicide. A friend of mine in college who was a girl had a tendency of taking 10 of her once-daily pills and then texting everyone on her phone about it. Not enough it would have killed her. Though enough for her to start hallucinating and then her roommates would have to take her to the doctor. Basically enough that she could "say" she attempted.

Meanwhile, every single guy I knew who attempted suicide told nobody whatsoever. They showed up to school. Then at some point just went out to the card and put a bullet in their head. No calls for help. No slow attempts that can be reversed. Just an intent to die.

I think the real difference here is that a lot of these girls felt they were down enough to want to attempt, but figured people would be willing to come rescue them.

As a guy who had some suicidal tendencies for a short period, I can tell you there was a sense that nobody would come. That by being in need of help, I deserved it even less. And that was if people even noticed me missing. So it was either going to be going out silently, or there would be some spectacle involved to show people what their apathy wrought. But the idea of "someone coming to save me" wasn't really in my head.

So I think that tends to be the difference. Victimhood is an option for women, and elicits empathy. Like prior to that, people are generally eager to help a sad girl. For guys, if feels like victimhood is sacrificing what little value you had left, and people will be eager to see you leave and take your dependent ass with you. So you feel like you either need to hide it until the last second so people don't catch on, or you go out with an explosion so others' apathy is no longer an option.

Sorry to go so dark on that one but that's just what went through my head.

ChrisMaster69 · Accepted Answer

In part a failure to seek help early on.

They rarely talk to friends about it, if they do it’s often just being told to man up and stop being gay.

Having worked over 8 years in counselling centre, the usual stats are like this.

10 girls spoken to, 8 come for Initial assessment and then 7 for longer term counselling, with often 1 or 2 of the 3 coming back.

10 guys spoken to, 5 turn up for initial Assessment, then 3 for longer term, but one of the 3 drops out as his mates tell him playing sport and going to pub with them is better for him. No one else comes back.

Guys rarely use tablets, preferring hanging, trains, hose from exhaust

Girls are more likely to seek help earlier, will openly discuss with friends and family.

What would the average blue response if their son or close mate said they were having sexuality problems and thought might be gay.

KatfromNYC · Accepted Answer

I can think of something.

I believe it’s one of those things where the truth is surprising and unexpected. Also statistics can sometimes seem to say one thing but the reality is something different.

Now, when I Googled it (you could try this), women actually attempt suicide at a much higher rate. From what I’ve noticed women are more likely to use means like taking pills, or cutting themselves. I guess there’s the possibility some of these are fake suicide attempts though which the statistics wouldn’t know, as I think people probably think it’s a real suicide attempt unless they know someone well and you can’t prove a fake suicide so they have to count it as a real one. So because they attempt suicide by means less likely to be fatal they survive at a much higher rate.

I’ve noticed that men are more likely to try violent means like using a gun or jumping into a river or lake with bags of rocks or heavy objects tied to them. These are more likely to kill someone. Men in general are more prone to act in risk taking and aggressive ways and because they are in those habits, they attempt suicide in ways that are similar to the habits they are used to (more aggressive and risk taking).

This I would almost guarantee explains why as women attempt suicide much more (and I’m almost sure they are at least 3/4 true rather than fake although I’m sure there are plenty of fake suicides for attention), yet men are more likely to die by suicide.

It doesn’t surprise me that women attempt suicide more often since women are treated with less respect than men and abused by both family members and partners more.

England4eva · Accepted Answer

Men have evolved to not show their pain. Society forbids them. Pushing down your suffering, will only make it worse. But for the average man, he has no “safe place” to vent his distress. So he is at greater risk of doing something irreversible, and final.

When all he really needed was a good friend, and probably already had one near by, but just couldn’t muster the strength to reach out, with the enormity of disapproval from himself and others, that rests on his shoulders.

Sorry that got deep, never intended to.

HighlyVolatile · Answer

To my understanding, more women attempt suicide (WHO estimates that women are three times more likely to attempt suicide) as well as engage in intentional self-harming behaviors like self-cutting, but they tend to use means that aren't so lethal when attempting suicide.

Men tend to use far more violent and aggressive means of attempting suicide like firearms, hanging, jumping from the tallest buildings, and exposing themselves to vehicle exhaust gas. The chances of surviving such methods are very slim.

Women tend to use far less lethal means with the most common being self-poisoning, and exsanguination (ex: slitting the wrists in a bathtub). Far more women survive these methods even though far more women attempt suicide.

bamesjond0069 · Answer

Because while the rewards of being in a good position as a man are great, the cost of failure is terrible and some men cannot deal with it.

For women in terms of dating almost all women can go on a date if they want. For very desirable men they can get just as many dates as women and in fact might be more rewarding for them than for the women. While the undesired man can get no dates at all.

Same with money. Women usually get help if needed or have a man pay their way. So they generally do about average. Some men are ultra successful. But the poor man is poor and nobody will help him.

This concept works with many other aspects of life. Where women as a group take a moderate path and men are forced into success or failure outcomes. So men who fail on multiple fronts have a hard time coping and might take more extreme measures, suicide being one of them, others are extreme work ethic or risk, school shootings, criminal enterprise, etc.

Aiko_E_Lara · Answer

It's not because of society telling them not to show feelings but it's how they say it. Men lacks the appreciation while being pressured to strive. Despite all their hard work and no appreciation, if they show feelings just once, it's all shame. On contrary, another cause would be is how society just say it's ok not to man up. It just makes men feel even more useless and that's basically telling them that they're defeated and there's nothing they can do. Teaching men to find solution instead of being emotional and appreciating them is suppose to be how you treat men. Society just don't appreciate them anymore also because of how developed our technology is right now.

hahahmm · Answer

Because men are way more likely to have more expectations and/or responsibilities than women. Western society is setup to give women a pass if they do something wrong or fail to be responsible. It's almost always possible for the woman to blame it on a man and the government will agree with her. She could stab herself with a knife & claim her boyfriend made her do it & he'd be sent to prison 9 times out of 10.

Sonorous · Answer

Well some reasons are:

• There are more men than women in the world/there's more than enough penis
• Men don't have as much innate value/due to not having vagina
• Men are expected to take on more responsibility/due to having penis
• Mens mental health isn't taken very seriously/...^

Aerissa_Jade · Answer

Higher stress jobs, sometimes the system screws them over. Seen a few who ended their lives because child support made them homeless. Likely a million different reasons though.

maverick2022 · Answer

Men are treated worse and get disregarded by society. Men don't receive support despite being the main victims of violence and rape (most people don't even realize men have higher rape rate in US due to prison system, again no one cares). They don't receive favoritism and typically work harder jobs. The average man is also attracted to more women than are attracted to him which is a further degradation to his soul.

desidoll · Answer

Society doesn’t allow them to express their emotion/feeling. They have to deal with it all alone.

KrakenAttackin · Answer

That's easy. It's because no one give a flying fuck about men on any level. There are three "spaces" for men with serious mental health issues: Prison, homelessness, and death.

From the age of about 14 on, young men realize they are on their own.

jennifer_bloom · Answer

They are more likely to feel like failures because they are judged mostly by their jobs while a woman can be judged by both her jobs and her looks so she can diversify her social strategy if she is not succeeding at something.

SaoirseS · Answer

I don’t have an answer but this piece makes sense.

bolverk · Answer

There is not the support network out there for men who are feeling suicidal that there is for women, also men do not do the ‘plea for help’ suicide attempts that women do, when men decide to suicide they plan it out and do it on the first attempt.

Harleigh90 · Answer

Toxic masculinity. How women and children are often seen as priority. (Not humans in general) How fewer men dont actually reach out for help.

TommyMountainFigure · Answer

I don't know why ANYONE would do it. I've yet to hear of a valid reason!

JoyGirl · Answer

Probably because they don’t share their emotions as much as females do.

Still-alive · Answer

i don't know if they commit it higher... they are just more successful at it. they tend to use guns over pills or other ways for instance

MCheetah · Answer

Because men have it harder in society than women? Duh.

Anonymous · Answer

Probably because men are completely disposable and no one gives a damn about us.

Slartybartfast · Answer

Women attempt suicide as a cry for help.  Men commit suicide knowing no one will help them.

WhitneySnow · Answer

Because they use more lethal methods that succeed more often (girls usually use pills)

Jaysonava · Answer

The ugly truth is reproductive imperative. Basically. It is the same reason men go to war and work in dangerous fields.

Andres77 · Answer

Stress. There is little help for men.

Anonymous · Answer

Guys have a harder time dealing with emotional stress and due to their own perpetuated gender culture, feel ashamed in seeking help.

ladydevil · Answer

Men find it difficult to express their feelings and mental condition. To whom they can express their problems? Most famliy thinks that they are the only source of money and hope for them

grega239 · Answer

Must be all that male privilege i keep hearing about

Anonymous · Answer

I would say this is a contributing factor, keyword, contributing, not the sole reason, but maybe because men have always had to take all of the risks when it comes to starting a relationship

dolemite89 · Answer

cuz we have to deal with women 🤣  pat cooper once said women live longer than men cuz women aren’t married to women

PerfectDark_Joe · Answer

Pressure, Anxiety, Depression, Societal Requirements. The list goes on.

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

They think their pp is too small. I will admit, kind of pathetic.

Anonymous · Answer

Because they are physically stronger. To kill oneself requires physical strength. Also it’s true women attempt suicide more than men. Men just have a more success rate

SlothySlob · Answer

Because we do what we say we'll do.

Ryfyle · Answer

Men are innately disposable.

BeMuse · Answer

Men have harder lives and more resolve.

exitseven · Answer

They are more results oriented.

Joker_ · Answer

yikes so many awful answers here

Twalli · Answer

Studies show that they do

noohair · Answer

The male ego cracks and does not fix well.

OddBeMe · Answer

Toxic masculinity hurts us the most.

BaldAvenger · Answer

What do you think?

Why do you think men commit suicide at a higher rate than women?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Why do you think men commit suicide at a higher rate than women?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.